As the Syrian transitional government prepares for parliamentary elections scheduled between 15 and 20 September, the process faces significant legal, organizational, and political challenges. This situation affects both the representative nature of the elections and the overall structure of the transitional period for the people of Syria, writes ANHA News Agency.
Election system and one-third appointed members
Taha al-Ahmed, Chair of the High Electoral Committee of the Syrian Transitional Government’s parliament, announced that the new parliament will consist of 210 members. Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani) will appoint one-third of the parliament, that is, 70 members, while the remaining 140 members will be selected through electoral committees. These members will then be chosen by branch committees and, subsequently, through those electoral bodies.
Al-Ahmed stated that the branch committees will be selected by the High Electoral Committee. In June 2025, Al-Jolani announced by presidential decree that he had formed a senior committee composed of figures close to him. According to the law issued by Al-Jolani, the appointed parliament has the authority to propose and amend legislation, ratify international agreements, and adopt both the national budget and general amnesties.
Conditions and safeguards
Although these steps have been announced, many fundamental legal requirements and safeguards remain unfulfilled. These include the lack of a comprehensive population census, which is essential for conducting transparent elections, the absence of legislation for licensing political parties, and the fact that no general electoral law currently exists to govern the process in Syria.
This situation raises serious questions about the transparency of the parliament and the level of representation for all segments of the Syrian population.
Media outlets have criticized Al-Jolani for assuming power without elections. The preparations for elections appear to contradict Al-Jolani’s own statements to the press.
Al-Jolani said, “It may take up to four years to hold elections in Syria. Any peaceful election requires a general census, the drafting and adoption of a new constitution, and these processes may take around three years.”
Al-Jolani had previously stated that valid elections require a comprehensive and complete population census. He emphasized that without adequate infrastructure and legal coordination with Syrians living abroad, it would not be possible to carry out elections.
Executive control and the importance of power
The Constitutional Declaration issued by the Transitional Government in June 2025, which defines the transitional period as lasting five years, grants broad powers to the head of the transitional government. While the declaration states that powers should be separated, it simultaneously gives Al-Jolani absolute authority over the definition of legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
Observers note that the appointment of one-third of the parliament by Al-Jolani, along with the formation of electoral boards through branch committees established by an unelected electoral commission, strengthens the dominance of the executive branch over legislative institutions. This, they argue, increases the risk that the upcoming parliament will function more as a symbolic body than as a genuine legislative authority.
Geographical and political obstacles
The elections are taking place while the Transitional Government controls only part of Syrian territory. Large areas, including Suwayda (Siweida) and much of Northern and Eastern Syria, remain outside the government’s authority. In addition, there are areas occupied by the Turkish army and affiliated mercenary groups. This raises questions about the extent to which all Syrians will be represented in the new parliament.
The agreement signed on 10 March between Mazloum Abdi and Al-Jolani, which included a provision for incorporating the institutions of Northern and Eastern Syria under the framework of the state, has yet to be implemented. This has led to uncertainty about the participation of people in the region in the upcoming electoral process.
Domestic and international reactions
The Constitutional Declaration and the electoral process have been widely criticized by legal organizations and segments of Syrian society. Warnings have been raised that the transitional system reinforces political hegemony, undermining the opportunity to establish a genuinely democratic political order.
The Transitional Government, however, claims that these elections represent “a fundamental step in the political transition process” and that their goal is “to rebuild state institutions and ensure stability.”
Syria has faced the same form of parliamentary elections since the 1960s, an ongoing practice that runs contrary to the Syrian constitution.
The most recent parliamentary elections in Syria were held in 2024.