What you need to know about Syria’s first post-Assad elections | DW News

Key Concepts

• People's Assembly: The Syrian parliament, for which the recent elections were held.
• Electoral Colleges: The bodies responsible for choosing two-thirds of the seats in the People's Assembly.
• Interim President Ahmed al-Sharah: The current interim president of Syria, responsible for selecting the remaining one-third of the People's Assembly seats.
• Symbolic Representation: The idea that representation, particularly for women and ethnic minorities, exists in name but lacks real impact or power.
• One-Man Rule: A political system where a single individual holds absolute power, a concern raised regarding the current Syrian political process.
• Legitimizing Project: The perception that the election serves primarily to validate the existing leadership and political structure rather than to bring about genuine change.
• Popular Mandate: The authority granted to a government or leader by the will of the people, which is expected to be claimed after the election results.

Syrian Parliamentary Election Overview

Vote counting is currently underway in Syria for the first parliamentary election since the fall of the Assad regime in December. Final results are anticipated in the coming days. The election process for the parliament, known as the People's Assembly, does not involve a direct popular vote. Instead, electoral colleges are responsible for choosing two-thirds of the seats, while Interim President Ahmed al-Sharah selects the remaining one-third. Notably, not all regions participated in the polls; authorities suspended voting in three provinces, citing security reasons.

Perceived Significance and Public Detachment

Journalist Baravan Russell, reporting from northeast Syria, expressed skepticism regarding the election's significance, stating, "it's hard to call this progress." She highlighted a widespread sentiment among the populace that the process is "something happening far away with no real impact on their lives." Russell emphasized that representation, particularly for women and ethnic minorities, "remains symbolic." She argued that if progress means "repeating the same political structure without genuine participation, then no," concluding, "it doesn't feel like a progress." Syrians in the region desire a political process that reflects all communities, not just "one center of power," leading to a feeling of detachment from their daily reality. The lack of representation for women and minorities further reinforces the perception that the system continues to exclude them, failing to represent their voices or signify a transition towards justice.

Reasons for Non-Participation and Skepticism

Russell confirmed that most Syrians, particularly in northeast Syria, are not participating in this election. This non-participation stems from a belief that the election does not genuinely represent them or their area's voices. Many view the election as "only performance" and a means of "legitimizing this project rather than deliver change in the area." A key reason for the lack of participation in northeast Syria is the absence of any agreement between the region and the new government. This process is widely seen as a "show" designed to reaffirm the existing leadership and control of "only one man in Syria," rather than opening the political space for minorities.

Future Outlook and Lack of Optimism

With results expected on Tuesday, Russell anticipates that "probably not much will change for people here." While the new parliament will be announced and "statements about the popular mandate will follow," the governance in northeast Syria is expected to continue under a local administration that operates independently of Damascus. The critical question remains whether these elections can lead to renewed dialogue between different parts of the country. However, Russell concluded with a pessimistic outlook, stating, "there is a little optimist about this" regarding the potential for meaningful dialogue or change.