Syria Holds First Legislative Election Post-Assad's Fall Via Indirect Vote

Members of Syrian electoral bodies convene today, Sunday, to elect new representatives, a move that represents a turning point in the country’s trajectory away from the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. This indirect election is a major test of the principle of inclusivity under the current Islamist-led authorities.

According to the official "Syrian TV" on the "X" platform (formerly Twitter), polls for the election of the new members of the People’s Council (Parliament) have opened recently. The head of the current Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after a former armed opposition offensive toppled Assad last December, seeks to consolidate his authority over a country ravaged by a 14-year-long war and waves of sectarian violence that have fueled distrust among minorities.

Electoral Process Details and Controversial Procedures

The indirect vote will see the participation of 6,000 electors in regional electoral bodies, commencing at 9:00 AM local time, with polls expected to close around 5:00 PM. A committee appointed by Al-Sharaa approved 1,570 candidates who presented their electoral platforms in seminars and debates this week. However, Reuters correspondents reported that public campaign advertising has been "subdued," with no posters or billboards visible in major cities. Women constitute 14% of the total number of candidates.

Today's election will select two-thirds of the Parliament's 210 seats. Results are expected to be announced tonight. However, the Legislative Council will not be officially formed until Al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda militant, chooses the remaining one-third of the seats (70 representatives).

Criticism Regarding Representation and Legitimacy

Authorities justify resorting to the indirect voting system instead of a general election by citing a lack of reliable population data and the displacement of millions of Syrians due to the war. For security and political reasons, voting has been postponed in three minority-controlled provinces—Raqqa, Al-Hasakah, and Sweida—leaving 19 parliamentary seats vacant for the time being.

Critics and opponents have lambasted these steps, arguing that the partial and indirect vote is "unrepresentative" and "excessively centrally managed." Analysts suggest that Al-Sharaa's selection of the remaining 70 representatives will ultimately determine the new People’s Council's effectiveness and legitimacy: while choosing women or minority representatives might add diversity, loyalists could help him pass laws without meaningful legislative challenge.

According to the Syrian news agency "SANA," the voting process, which will signal the formation of the first Syrian People's Council after the fall of the previous regime, will take place in the designated electoral centers in most governorates. A later date will be set for polling in some areas of Raqqa and Al-Hasakah governorates (Maadan, Ras al-Ain, and Tel Abyad), while the seats of the remaining districts in these two governorates, as well as all districts of Sweida governorate, will remain vacant until appropriate conditions are met.