Syria Holds Post-Assad Parliamentary Elections

Syria is holding its first parliamentary elections since the fall of longtime autocratic leader Bashar al-Assad in December. The elections for the People's Assembly will see two-thirds of the 210 seats elected by electoral colleges and one-third directly appointed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This process is not a popular vote due to the displacement of millions of Syrians during the 14-year civil war, making an accurate voter registry impossible. All existing political parties, including the Assad-led Syria — Ba ath Party, have been dissolved, and candidates are running as individuals. Concerns have been raised about the lack of clear criteria for elector selection and the exclusion of Sweida province and Kurdish-controlled areas in the northeast, where elections are postponed due to tensions with the central government in Damascus. The interim authorities aim for inclusivity, particularly for women and minorities, with Ahmed al-Sharaa's appointments serving as a mechanism to balance representation. Recent sectarian violence and Israeli airstrikes in Damascus add to the complexity of the political landscape.