Syria will hold an indirect vote on Sunday to establish its first parliament since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, marking a crucial step in the country’s transition from Assad’s rule. However, it has raised significant concerns about political inclusivity under the new leadership.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa aims to consolidate his control over a nation fractured by 14 years of war. Recent sectarian violence has intensified suspicion of his Islamist-led administration among minority groups. The upcoming election will utilize a unique indirect voting system, where regional electoral colleges, composed of 6,000 electors, will select two-thirds of the 210-seat parliament. A committee appointed by Sharaa has approved 1,570 candidates for this election.
Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda fighter whose rebel forces toppled Assad in December, will appoint the remaining third of the seats. Authorities opted for this system instead of universal suffrage due to unreliable population data and the displacement of millions of Syrians caused by the war.
Controversial Postponements and Empty Seats
The government has postponed the electoral process in the northeast, controlled by Kurdish-led authorities, and in the province of Sweida, dominated by Druze armed groups. Consequently, 19 parliamentary seats will remain vacant. Critics have condemned these decisions, arguing that a partial and indirect vote is unrepresentative and overly centralized.
The eastern city of Deir al-Zor exemplifies this division. The Euphrates River splits the city into two: the government-held western half, where voting will occur, and the Kurdish-controlled eastern half, which will not participate in the election. Local resident Hassan Mohamed Dalli expressed frustration, stating, “It does not satisfy me that there are elections there, and here there aren’t. We want something that serves the whole region. Syria is united.”
Critics also highlight the lack of guarantees for the participation of women and religious and ethnic minorities in the electoral process. Women comprise at least 20% of candidates in only a quarter of electoral districts. In half of the districts, 10% or fewer candidates are women. Alarmingly, no quotas exist for female or minority lawmakers.
Historically, women fared poorly under the Assad regime, as they had no quotas in parliament, and female lawmakers constituted only 6% to 13% of the legislature from 1981 until Bashar was ousted, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
A Fragile Transition Ahead
Assad’s parliament had 250 seats, and he reserved two-thirds of them for members of his Baath Party. Assad’s opponents widely criticized the last elections in July 2024 as a farce. Analysts warn that the current winner-takes-all voting system could lead to a parliament dominated by men from Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority.
This situation places pressure on Sharaa, who has repeatedly promised inclusivity. He must use his appointed seats to include female lawmakers and representatives from minority groups. However, observers worry that he might use these appointments to centralize power further.
Haid Haid, a senior fellow at the Arab Reform Initiative, cautioned, “If the president selects individuals subject to his influence, he could issue laws through decrees without effective challenge.” He added, “This moment could either legitimize a fragile transition or deepen long-standing public cynicism.”
