Syria Conducts Indirect Parliamentary Vote Post-Assad, Two-Thirds Seats Contested

Syria held its first parliamentary elections since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, with an indirect voting system where about 6,000 vetted electors chose two-thirds of the 210-seat People's Assembly. The remaining one-third of seats will be appointed directly by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, consolidating his influence over the new legislative body. The election process, characterized by limited public campaigning and the absence of direct popular voting, has been criticized as undemocratic and likely to favor loyalists, raising concerns about genuine pluralism and democratic legitimacy. Voting took place amid postponements in minority-held provinces and ongoing political tensions, with the government defending the system as necessary due to broken registries and displacement caused by years of conflict. Observers and officials noted the historic nature of the elections as a step towards rebuilding the country, though skepticism remains about whether the assembly will effectively represent diverse Syrian interests. The final results were announced after vote counting, with hopes expressed by officials that the new assembly will address vital national issues and support reconstruction efforts.