Syria holding first post-Assad parliamentary elections
4 Min Read
The election is marred by criticism over indirect voting, regional exclusion, and limited transparency, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the transitional government under Ahmad al-Sharaa.
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A poster shows Syrian-American Jew Henry Hamra, a candidate for the Syrian Parliamentary elections, in the Jewish neighborhood of old Damascus, Syria Friday, October 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Syria is set to hold its first parliamentary elections under the new regime on Sunday, marking a significant yet controversial moment in the country's ongoing political transition following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The vote comes under the oversight of the interim regime led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, with mounting concerns over the process's legitimacy and fairness.
Citizens will be choosing 140 members of the 210-seat parliament, while the remaining 70 lawmakers will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa.
This structure, introduced in the new temporary electoral law finalized in July, represents a significant change from the previous 150-seat legislature and includes a stated quota of 20% for women.
Originally scheduled for September 15, the elections were delayed following unrest in the southern province of Sweida.
Indirect voting raises legitimacy concerns
Critics argue that the electoral framework grants the president of the new regime excessive influence over the legislature. Rather than a direct vote, about 6,000 electoral college members were tasked with selecting parliamentarians, reducing the scope of popular participation.
Bassam Alahmad of Syrians for Truth and Justice remarked to Al-Monitor, "You can call the process what you like, but not elections," capturing the concerns of civil society groups who warn that al-Sharaa's appointments could effectively dominate the legislative body.
Widespread exclusions undermine representation
The vote has been postponed in key provinces, including Sweida, Raqqa, and al-Hasakah, officially due to security concerns. This exclusion impacts more than five million residents and leaves 32 seats unfilled, further casting doubt on the inclusivity of the elections.
Speaking to the BBC, Thouraya Mustafa of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party criticized the decision, calling it a denial of fundamental rights and representation for significant ethnic and religious minorities.
This woman was selected by Jolani's regime to represent Sqailbyieh region in Western Hama.
— H. (@SyMUTD99) October 4, 2025
The problem is how is this woman is going to represent Sqailbyieh which is one of the biggest Christian towns in Syria with a significant Alawite population.
You can't make this sh*t up pic.twitter.com/khGqgd0FAh
The electoral commission imposed broad restrictions on candidate eligibility, barring individuals affiliated with the former regime, armed groups, or those advocating foreign intervention. This vague language enabled authorities to remove candidates arbitrarily, including some with established patriotic credentials.
Although the electoral law mandates that women comprise 20% of electoral college members, only 14% of final candidates were women. Representation varied significantly by district, with some areas fielding no female candidates at all.
Lack of oversight and public engagement
Civil society organizations were denied permission to observe polling, with monitoring limited to members of the Syrian Bar Association.
Mutasem Syoufi of The Day After told AP that the compressed timeline, last-minute changes to electoral college rosters, and absence of clear selection criteria created an environment vulnerable to manipulation.
Public awareness was also low, with reports from Damascus indicating many residents were unaware that elections were taking place, according to AP.
Critics question democratic transition
Following the dissolution of the People's Assembly in January 2025, the interim government established a transitional framework for governance. While the expansion of the legislature and inclusion of women were touted as reforms, critics argue that these changes mask a broader strategy to entrench executive control.
14 civil society groups jointly warned that al-Sharaa's capacity to appoint a third of parliament undermines pluralism. Haid Haid of the Arab Reform Initiative told AP that the lack of transparency invites manipulation, reinforcing fears of a pseudo-democratic process.
Millions of displaced Syrians, both internally and abroad, were unable to participate. Al-Sharaa attributed this to documentation challenges and the absence of up-to-date demographic records. However, critics argue this exclusion reflects a failure to uphold voting rights during a critical transitional period.
