Thabet Al-Jouhar: Centralization is destructive; Syria’s future depends on democracy, decentralization

After decades of centralized rule and single-party control, democracy and decentralization have become the necessary foundation for a new Syria, to end divisions, preserve state unity, and guarantee citizens’ rights across the country.

Al-Jouhar told ANHA agency: “We are working with political parties, self-administration bodies, and all Syrian national forces and figures to establish democracy across Syria. For more than five decades, Syria experienced centralized rule far from democracy, where the single party dominated all other organizations and national figures.”

He added: “At the Syrian Homeland Party, we view democracy as the people governing themselves, meaning a decentralized multi-party system under a constitution that guarantees the rights of all Syrian components throughout the country. This has now become a popular demand.”

Democracy Will Guarantee Syrians’ Rights Through a National Constitution

Al-Jouhar noted: “There are groups that we hear about constantly on social media and through various media outlets that oppose decentralization. Whoever opposes decentralization is opposing democracy. Democracy is a pressing popular demand and a healthy solution to save Syria from a five-decade-long rule and the current conditions Syrians live in. Decentralization and democracy are the only principles that can save Syria from division, fragmentation, sectarian war, and the hate speech that threatens the region.”

He stressed that democracy is the foundation for building a new Syria, allowing the people to govern themselves and preserve Syria’s territorial and popular unity.

Al-Jouhar called on all Syrian nationalists, politicians, tribes, ethnic groups, and religious communities to support democracy, which aligns with the conditions of all Syrians and ensures their rights under a comprehensive national constitution, establishing a decentralized multi-party system that protects citizens’ rights and Syria’s unity.

Centralization is Destructive for a New Syria

Al-Jouhar described centralization in a new Syria as destructive to the Syrian people and potentially leading to the country’s division and loss of sovereignty. He added: “If Syria transitions to a new constitutional system that protects the rights of all components and fulfills their aspirations while uniting the hopes of Syrians, we will achieve a new decentralized multi-party Syria that preserves their rights.”

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ANHA