Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections on Sunday since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, amid concerns over inclusivity and successive delays. There will be no direct vote for the People's Assembly, which will be responsible for legislation during a transitional period. Instead, 'electoral colleges' will select representatives for two-thirds of the 210 seats, while Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appoint the rest. Authorities say they have postponed the polls for security reasons in two Kurdish-controlled provinces and a third which saw deadly fighting between government forces and Druze militias.

The clashes, which occurred in July, marked the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria since Assad's overthrow. In a recent UN speech, Sharaa vowed to bring to justice those responsible for atrocities during Assad's rule, promising a new state built on laws that guarantee rights for all.

With over 1,500 candidates, including a requirement for at least 20% of electoral college members to be women, concerns remain about the election's fairness due to the president's influence over appointments. 20 seats remain vacant in Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Suweida until elections can occur there, which critics claim reinforces an authoritarian approach, leaving many feeling excluded from this new political landscape.