Syria Holds First Election Under Ahmed Al-Shara

The Syrian government, led by Ahmed Al-Shara, a former president with ties to al-Qaeda, recently celebrated its inaugural election.

Sharaa stated that this election marks a first step intended to align with Syria’s present circumstances. A governmental body has tallied the results, offering candidates the opportunity to contest the tight race. Full election results from various Middle Eastern sources are anticipated by the weekend’s conclusion.

A successful democratic process is crucial for Sharaa to attract international investment. He assumed the presidency after leading Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group that emerged from al-Qaeda. HTS ousted Bashar Assad in December, forcing Assad and his family into exile in Russia. Since then, Sharaa has dropped his jihadist name, Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, meeting Western leaders in formal attire.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) outlined the election’s parameters: The People’s Assembly comprises 210 seats representing the nation, with Sharaa personally appointing one-third of members, while voters filled the remaining two-thirds during this election. A total of 1,578 candidates were selected by around 6,000 individuals who gained approval from Sharaa’s government.

The election specifically reserved 14% of the seats for women. Sharaa endorsed the election while emphasizing the need for “social, demographic, and professional diversity,” though without specific criteria. Candidates must not be military members or supporters of the Assad regime, “terrorist organizations,” or separatist groups. It remains unclear whether HTS membership aligns with the “terrorist organization” stipulation, and issues involving the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have not been addressed.

The government claimed it aimed to facilitate as extensive an election process as possible nationwide, yet many war-ravaged regions were excluded. Reports indicate that voting did not occur in areas like Raqqa, a former Islamic State stronghold, as well as Hasaka and Sweida, with authorities attributing the omission to security concerns.

Sweida has experienced notable violence between regime-associated jihadists and the Druze community since HTS’s takeover. The Druze have accused the government of territorial encroachment, seeking protection from neighboring Syria. Israel bombed Damascus in July, condemning the violence near the border, yet skirmishes have persisted.

Reports from various outlets indicate an absence of visible campaign activities or election fervor within Syria. There were no rallies leading up to the vote, and the public expressed apathy towards the election.

Despite this, Sharaa hailed the electoral process as a significant achievement, stating it reflects national pride, especially given Syria’s ravaged state just months prior. He suggested that the limited nature of the elections was necessary and suitable for current circumstances, noting that over 6 million Syrians live abroad as refugees while another 7.4 million are internally displaced, complicating the voting process.

In a speech broadcast nationwide, Sharaa urged all Syrians to participate in building a new country, suggesting that recent achievements demonstrate the resilience of the Syrian people.

However, his statements conflict with those from the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), which condemned the elections as mere political theater. The SDC asserted that the electoral process does not reflect the will of the Syrian populace or represent all regions.

The SDC declared the elections a farce, claiming they discredit Syria’s history and the sacrifices made for democracy. They argued that a legitimate election needs to include international oversight to ensure inclusivity and transparency.

On the ground, the SDF accused Sharaa’s government of conducting a drone strike targeting their forces in Aleppo, injuring four fighters. They emphasized that such attacks aim to destabilize the region.