Latest news with #HigherCommitteeforPeople'sAssemblyElections
Rudaw Net
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Damascus says Rojava unity conference serves ‘foreign agendas'
Also in Syria SDF says thwarted attack in Deir ez-Zor Kurds, Druze, Alawites, Christians attend Rojava unity conference Ankara, Damascus discuss joint fight against 'terrorist organizations' UK repatriates child from northeast Syria A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior Damascus official on Friday said a unity conference, bringing together Syria's minorities to call for changes to the country's transitional constitution, served 'foreign agendas.' The conference held in Hasaka, northeast Syria (Rojava) was 'distorted and perhaps serving foreign agendas,' said Nawar Najma, spokesperson for the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, the body overseeing Syria's first parliamentary elections since the fall of the regime. More than 400 representatives from Syria's minority communities, including Kurds, Druze, Alawites, and Christians, attended the conference. 'The conference's location and nature do not truly reflect the slogans raised there,' Najma told Rudaw. 'These groups, which define themselves by sectarian and ethnic affiliation, do not necessarily represent all of their components.' He warned that such conferences weaken Syria and present a 'false image' of the country being an 'artificial state.' Syria's minority communities are concerned about their future in the country and decisions made by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and his Islamist-led government. In March, Sharaa approved a constitutional declaration granting himself sweeping powers, including the authority to appoint all the judges of the constitutional court - the only institution capable of holding him accountable. In addition, 70 of the 210 seats in the parliament will be appointed by presidential decree. Critics have warned the interim constitution could entrench authoritarianism and marginalize minority communities. The final statement from the conference called for the interim constitution to be amended 'to ensure broader participation and fair representation.' The Kurdish-led Rojava administration, which hosted the conference, has engaged in dialogue with Syria's interim government regarding the integration of its civil and military institutions into state structures. Those talks, however, have stalled. In April, Rojava hosted a pan-Kurdish conference in Qamishli that brought together rival parties to present a united front in negotiations over Rojava's future. Damascus condemned the conference at the time, calling it a separatist initiative. Sheikh Murshid al-Khaznawi, a prominent Kurdish clergyman, said he backs decentralization. 'The absence of decentralization in Syria is what led to the denial of rights of all ethnic groups and components. Therefore, the main demand from the conference was the implementation of decentralization to ensure the protection of everyone's rights,' Khaznawi, who delivered a speech at the event, told Rudaw on Friday.
Saudi Gazette
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since the fall of al-Assad
DAMASCUS — Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, with voting scheduled to take place between 15 and 20 September, the head of the election organising body told state media on Sunday. Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, confirmed the dates to the state-run SANA news agency. The elections will be held under the authority of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who took power following a rapid rebel advance that ousted al-Assad in December. One-third of the 210 seats in the new assembly will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa, while the remaining two-thirds will be filled through provincial-level elections. In an interview with the Erem News website, committee member Hassan Al-Daghim said that electoral colleges would be established in each province to oversee the voting for the elected seats. A temporary constitution, signed by al-Sharaa in March, established a People's Committee to serve as a transitional parliament until a permanent constitution is enacted and full national elections are held, a process expected to take several announcement comes amid heightened political uncertainty and deepening divisions over Syria's new leadership, particularly after a wave of violence, between the Bedouin and Druze communities, erupted in Suwayda earlier this between the two groups spiralled into heavy fighting that left hundreds dead and threatened to destabilise the postwar Syrian government troops intervened, their actions have been criticised. Some government forces allegedly sided with the Bedouins, reportedly carrying out executions against Druze civilians and looting homes in Druze violence also drew in Israel, which launched airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions, including the Defence Ministry headquarters, citing the need to protect the Druze minority as justification for its intervention. — Euronews
Leaders
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Syria to Hold First Parliamentary Elections in September Since Assad's Fall
Syria is set to hold parliamentary elections in September, marking the first elections under the new government after the fall of Bashar Assad, according to Reuters. The Chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, Mohammed Taha Al-Ahmad, told state news agency SANA that elections will kick off between Sept. 15 and 20. Crucially, Syria's Interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa will appoint one third of the 210 seats while the rest will be elected. Syria's Interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa In March, Al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution called for the establishment of a People's Committee to serve as an interim parliament until the Syria adopts a permanent constitution and holds general elections, a move that may take years. The announcement of impeding elections comes at a crucial time as Syria witnessed sectarian violence in the southern province of Sweida earlier this month. On Friday, Syria's Foreign Minister held frank and productive talks with the United States and France in Paris, according to Arab News. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani met with French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot and US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack to discuss Syria's political transition. During the meeting, they underscored the significance of engaging quickly to ensure the success of Syria's political transition after the fall of President Bashar Assad. In a joint statement, they also agreed on the necessity of ensuring that Syria's neighbors do not pose a threat and that Syria does not pose a threat to its neighbors. Related Topics: Syria, US and France Hold Frank, Productive Talks in Paris High-level Saudi Delegation Eyes Investment Opportunities in Syria Saudi-Syrian Investment Forum: $6.4bn Worth of Deals Signed to Support Reconstruction Short link : Post Views: 78
Euronews
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since the fall of al-Assad
Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, with voting scheduled to take place between 15 and 20 September, the head of the election organising body told state media on Sunday. Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, confirmed the dates to the state-run SANA news agency. The elections will be held under the authority of interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who took power following a rapid rebel advance that ousted al-Assad in December. One-third of the 210 seats in the new assembly will be appointed directly by al-Sharaa, while the remaining two-thirds will be filled through provincial-level elections. In an interview with the Erem News website, committee member Hassan Al-Daghim said that electoral colleges would be established in each province to oversee the voting for the elected seats. A temporary constitution, signed by al-Sharaa in March, established a People's Committee to serve as a transitional parliament until a permanent constitution is enacted and full national elections are held, a process expected to take several years. The announcement comes amid heightened political uncertainty and deepening divisions over Syria's new leadership, particularly after a wave of violence, between the Bedouin and Druze communities, erupted in Suwayda earlier this month. Clashes between the two groups spiralled into heavy fighting that left hundreds dead and threatened to destabilise the postwar transition. Though Syrian government troops intervened, their actions have been criticised. Some government forces allegedly sided with the Bedouins, reportedly carrying out executions against Druze civilians and looting homes in Druze areas. The violence also drew in Israel, which launched airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions, including the Defence Ministry headquarters, citing the need to protect the Druze minority as justification for its intervention.
NDTV
28-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Syria To Hold Parliamentary Elections In September, 1st Since Bashar Al-Assad's Regime Fall
Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, the head of a body tasked with organising the election process told state media Sunday. Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, told state news agency SANA that elections will take place between September 15 and 20. They will be the first to take place under the country's new authorities after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December. One third of the 210 seats will the appointed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with the rest to be elected. In a recent interview with the Erem News site, another member of the elections committee, Hassan al-Daghim, said an electoral college will be set up in each of Syria's provinces to vote for the elected seats. A temporary constitution signed by al-Sharaa in March called for a People's Committee to be set up to serve as an interim parliament until a permanent constitution is adopted and general elections held, a process that could take years. The announcement of impending elections comes at a time when the country is increasingly divided in its views of the new authorities in Damascus after sectarian violence broke out in the southern province of Sweida earlier this month. The fighting killed hundreds of people and threatened to unravel Syria's fragile postwar transition. The violent clashes, which broke out two weeks ago, were sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious minority. Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to end the fighting, but effectively sided with the clans. Some government fighters reportedly executed Druze civilians and burned and looted houses. Israel intervened, launching airstrikes on government forces and on the Defence Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority.
