Syria's First Parliamentary Elections after the Fall of Assad: What the Elections Revealed.

On October 5, parliamentary elections were held in Syria, marking the first since the fall of Bashar Assad in December 2024. These elections were not perceived as a total victory for democracy, but rather as a ritual of legitimizing new power structures within traditional democratic procedures.

According to inkorr.com: Recent parliamentary elections in Syria were conducted under a new electoral system, where deputies were elected by special bodies rather than directly by voters. This initiative sparked considerable outrage among Syrians and observers.

New Electoral System in Syria

This parliamentary election used a new electoral system. The parliament consisted of 210 deputies, however, voting was not conducted directly by the populace. Deputies were elected by special bodies such as electoral committees or councils. This raised questions among Syrians and independent observers, who compared these elections to the old democratic practices in the country.

Moreover, the candidate selection system turned out to be quite convoluted, complicating the process and reducing its transparency. The absence of political party participation further exacerbated the issues surrounding candidate identification.

Pro-Western Views on the Elections in Syria

Pro-Western politicians criticized these elections, deeming them undemocratic and opaque. Meanwhile, EU and NATO countries opted for a restrained response, limiting themselves to congratulations regarding this event.

Conclusions on the Elections in Syria

The elections in Syria demonstrated that centralized power remains, with the president continuing to control the voting process while attempting to decentralize the political system. This evoked mixed opinions among locals and the international community regarding the country's future.

The parliamentary elections in Syria, which marked the first occurrence of its kind since the fall of Bashar Assad, did not bring significant changes to the political landscape. The new electoral system and the convoluted candidate selection process raised doubts about the elections' legitimacy, even though some countries remained reserved in their assessments. These elections stimulate discussions about Syria's political future and its engagement with the international community.