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. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appoint the rest.
Long-time former President Assad was ousted by Sharaa's forces 10 months ago after a 13-year civil war.
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, in July, marked the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria since Assad's overthrow. In a speech at the UN General Assembly last week, Sharaa promised to bring to justice everyone responsible for the bloodshed, as well as those who committed atrocities under Assad.
Sunday's polls are being overseen by the Higher Committee for the Syrian People's Assembly Elections, with the number of seats in each district based on census data collected in 2010. The postponement in the three provinces means only 50 out of 60 districts will participate, choosing representatives for about 120 seats.
There will be over 1,500 candidates, who must also be electoral college members, with a requirement that at least 20% of them be women. Critics warn this setup undermines the intended representation and accountability, creating a parliament that reflects the executive authority rather than the voters' will.
Sharaa defended the elections by stating that it was difficult to conduct popular elections due to document losses and the millions of refugees who remain outside Syria. The Higher Committee explained the delay was due to the security situation in the excluded regions.
Residents and various political figures have expressed skepticism about the electoral process, characterizing it more as an appointment rather than a genuine democratic exercise, with concerns remaining heightened over sectarian divisions and the overall representativeness of the interim government.
