In something of a ‘two steps forward, one step back’ maneuver, the Syrian government held parliamentary elections this week – the first since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad last December following 15 years of brutal civil war (MEES, 13 December 2024). But rather than the election results making headlines, it was the process itself that drew comment.
The model used for the elections did not rely on a popular vote. Instead, a 6,000-member electoral college selected 119 of the 140 contested seats in Syria’s 210-member parliament. The college was officially drawn from provincial committees, but critics argued that it was de-facto a means for President Sharaa, who leads the Al Qaeda-affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS), to ensure a parliament aligned with his group. The other 70 seats are to be appointed by Mr Sharaa directly, ensuring what detractors say amounts to a rubber stamp legislature. (CONTINUED - 766 WORDS)
