Syria held its first parliamentary elections since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday. They are seen as a crucial step in shaping the legislative process for the transitional period.
The newly formed Syrian People’s Assembly is to consist of 210 members, with seats reserved for women and ethnic minorities. There will be no direct elections; two-thirds of the members will be elected by “electoral colleges,” with the remaining members appointed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The model has been criticized for limiting democratic participation.
Three provinces did not participate in the elections. In Raqqa and Hasakah, which are controlled by Kurdish forces, as well as in Suwayda, where bloody clashes between government forces and Druze militias have recently taken place, the interim authorities have postponed the elections.
