After the Fall of Assad.. The Start of Vote Counting in the First Elections for the Syrian People's Council

SadaNews - The head of the Syrian High Election Commission, Nawar Najm, announced the start of vote counting in several areas and the declaration of winning candidates in the first elections for the People's Council in Syria since the fall of the regime of ousted President Bashar Assad on December 8 of last year.

The head of the Syrian High Election Commission indicated that the vote counting has begun in the town of Saramin in Dar'a countryside and Baniyas on the Syrian coast.

The first elections for the People's Council in Syria since the fall of Assad's regime commenced this morning, Sunday.

The official Syrian news agency (SANA) reported that the accredited polling centers in the country's provinces opened their doors to begin the voting process and receive members of the electoral bodies to cast their votes, while the Ministry of Interior announced the postponement of voting in the provinces of Sweida, Raqqa, and Hasaka for security reasons.

The official news channel reported that diplomatic missions have arrived at the election department in Damascus to monitor the progress of the elections, adding that units from the internal security forces have deployed in several main squares in Syrian cities to secure the voting process.

A total of 1,578 candidates are competing in the elections, of whom about 14% are women, and they presented their programs in seminars and debates over the past week.

The new council consists of 210 members, 140 of whom will be elected in the elections conducted through the electoral bodies, while the remaining third will be appointed by a decree from President Ahmad al-Shara.

Competent and specialized individuals make up 70% of the electoral bodies, compared to 30% from notable figures representing a wide range of social segments.

The authorities claim they resorted to this system instead of public voting due to the lack of reliable population data and because millions of Syrians have been displaced due to the war.

The term of the People's Council lasts for 30 months, renewable within a transitional phase extending up to 4 years with the possibility of extending it for an additional year.

This council will be tasked with proposing and approving laws, amending or abolishing previous laws, ratifying international treaties, approving the state budget, and issuing general amnesties.

The council will take on a foundational role by forming a committee to prepare a permanent constitution that is expected to be presented to a public referendum when security and stability conditions are met, ensuring its reach to all citizens; after its approval, parliamentary, local, and presidential elections will be held.

These elections come three months after President Ahmad al-Shara issued Decree No. 66 of 2025 on June 13, constituting the High Election Commission for the People's Council.

Source: Al Jazeera + Syrian Agencies