Syria announces results of first parliamentary elections since Assad’s fall
Vote hailed as a crucial step in the country’s post-war transition, though concerns remain over inclusivity and fair political representation
DAMASCUS, Syria (MNTV) — Syria has released the results of its first parliamentary elections since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, marking a pivotal step in the country’s fragile political transition after more than a decade of conflict.
However, questions about inclusivity and fairness have cast a shadow over the process, according to observers.
Nawar Najmeh, spokesperson for the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, announced that Sunni Muslim men dominate the 119 seats filled through indirect voting.
Only four percent of the newly elected lawmakers are women, and just two Christians secured seats, prompting criticism from observers who say the results fail to reflect Syria’s social diversity.
Najmeh acknowledged the imbalance, describing the limited female and Christian representation as “not proportionate to their role and presence in society.”
Rights groups and independent analysts say the outcome underscores how political power remains concentrated among connected elites rather than signaling genuine democratic reform.
Officials said the indirect voting system replaced universal suffrage due to unreliable demographic data following the war, which left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.
Around 6,000 members of regional electoral colleges participated in Sunday’s vote, selecting candidates from pre-approved lists to fill nearly two-thirds of the new 210-seat assembly. President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to appoint the remaining members.
Authorities postponed voting in areas outside government control—including Kurdish-held regions in the north and northeast and the Druze-majority province of Suwayda—leaving 21 seats vacant.
Najmeh said the government intends to hold “supplementary ballots” to complete the chamber once conditions allow.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Damascus reported mixed reactions across the country. Residents in major cities such as Aleppo, Damascus, and Hama expressed cautious optimism that the elections could mark the beginning of political renewal, while Kurdish and Druze communities dismissed the process as unrepresentative.
Talks between Damascus and Kurdish authorities to integrate civil and military institutions in the northeast have also stalled, delaying electoral timelines in Raqqa and Hasakeh.
Najmeh suggested that the president’s forthcoming appointments could help “balance representation,” though he ruled out adopting a formal quota system.
Political activist and newly elected lawmaker Nour al-Jandali from Homs called on the incoming parliament to focus on rebuilding state institutions rooted in “freedom, citizenship, and justice.” She stressed that women must play “an active and substantive role” in shaping public policy during Syria’s transition.
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