Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since Assad's fall in September
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, the head of a body tasked with organizing 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 Sept. 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 Defense Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority.
The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
4 hours ago
- CBC
Criticism of Israel grows as aid trickles into Gaza
Israel has agreed to limit fighting in parts of Gaza and would allow more aid into the region, but both moves are facing criticism for being too little too late.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- CTV News
Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since Assad's fall in September
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, center, and Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, right, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (SANA via AP) DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, the head of a body tasked with organizing 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 Sept. 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 Defense Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority. The Associated Press
Canada News.Net
11 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Starmer, Modi hail long-sought India-UK free trade deal
LONDON, U.K.: In a significant step forward for post-Brexit Britain and rising global power India, Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi on July 24 concluded a long-awaited free trade agreement that will dramatically reduce tariffs on key goods and deepen economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries. The signing took place at Chequers, the British Prime Minister's official country residence, where trade ministers Jonathan Reynolds of the U.K. and Piyush Goyal of India formalized the pact. The deal, years in the making, was hailed as a turning point in bilateral relations and a symbol of renewed ambition on both sides. Starmer described it as "the most substantial and economically transformative trade agreement" the United Kingdom has entered into since its departure from the European Union in 2020. Modi, echoing the sentiment, called it "a historic day" in India–U.K. relations. Alongside the trade pact, the two nations unveiled nearly six billion pounds (US$8 billion) in new commercial and investment commitments across strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, dairy, and clean energy. Both leaders pledged closer collaboration in defense, climate action, healthcare, and migration policy. The deal, which still requires ratification by the British Parliament, has been in negotiation since early 2022. Talks were launched initially under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who ambitiously promised a conclusion by the Diwali festival that year. However, negotiations saw multiple delays under the former Conservative government, only gaining new momentum after the 2024 elections, which saw Modi win re-election and Labour come to power under Starmer. Under the agreement, India's average tariff on British exports will drop sharply from 15 percent to three percent. Notably, tariffs on Scotch whisky and English gin — long a sticking point — will be cut in half from 150 percent to 75 percent, and gradually reduced to 40 percent over a decade. Automotive tariffs, which currently exceed 100 percent, will fall to 10 percent under a tariff-rate quota system. The U.K. projects that the deal will boost bilateral trade by 25.5 billion pounds ($35 billion) annually by 2040 and inject nearly five billion pounds ($6.8 billion) a year into the British economy. Meanwhile, India's Trade Ministry has stated that 99 percent of Indian exports, including textiles, leather goods, and food items, will be granted duty-free access to the U.K. market. Beyond the numbers, the agreement underscores a renewed political and cultural closeness. Nearly two million people of Indian origin live in the U.K., a legacy of deep historical ties dating back to the colonial era, which ended in 1947. Starmer emphasized that shared heritage and people-to-people connections provide a strong foundation for a modern partnership. "The U.K. and India have unique bonds of history, of family and of culture," he said. "This deal marks the beginning of a new chapter — ambitious, modern, and built for the future." With a nod to the cricket rivalry currently playing out between the two nations, Modi added a lighthearted metaphor: "Cricket is a great symbol of our partnership. There may be a swing and a miss at times, but we always play with a straight bat. Together, we are building a high-scoring, enduring alliance." The agreement is seen not just as a bilateral milestone, but as a signal of Britain's growing pivot toward the Indo-Pacific and India's emergence as a central player in global trade diplomacy.
