Latest news with #Ahmadal-Sharaa
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syria to hold first election after Al-Assad in September
Shafaq News – Damascus Syria is set to hold parliamentary elections from September 15 to 20 with more seats and outside monitoring, the chairman of the Supreme Elections Committee confirmed on Sunday. The Head of the Supreme Committee for People's Assembly Elections, Mohammad al-Ahmad, told Syria's state-run SANA that the revised system increases the number of assembly seats from 150 to 210, with 70 members to be directly appointed by the president. He noted that the allocation of seats will reflect population figures from Syria's 2011 census, leading to expanded representation for several provinces. The Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa, during his meeting with al-Ahmad, stressed the importance of conducting elections in all Syrian provinces, reiterating his rejection of any form of division—an approach he described as universally opposed by the Syrian people. He also emphasized the exclusion of individuals who supported 'criminal elements' or promoted sectarianism and separatism. Following the signing of the electoral decree, the committee will have one week to form local subcommittees, which will then be given 15 days to select the voting bodies. Afterward, candidate registration will open, with nominees granted one week to prepare their platforms before engaging in debates with selection bodies and subcommittee members. Al-Ahmad indicated that at least 20 percent of the electorate bodies will include women, reflecting efforts to promote gender inclusion in the voting process. The elections will be monitored by domestic observers and international organizations, coordinated by the Supreme Electoral Committee. Authorities will also guarantee the right to challenge candidate lists and final results, he added.
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Syria to hold first parliamentary elections since Assad's fall in September
Published Jul 27, 2025 • 1 minute read In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa receives the final version of the provisional electoral system for the People's Assembly, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 27, 2025. Photo by SANA via AP / 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 Defence Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority. Sports Columnists Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Post-Assad Syria to hold first parliamentary polls in September amid sectarian unrest
Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of Bashar al-Assad between 15 and 20 September, according to officials. The polls, announced amid deadly sectarian violence in Sweida province, come as the country navigates a tense political transition under temporary President Ahmad al-Sharaa. read more 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. AP Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, according to the president of the committee in charge of organising the election process, told state media on Sunday. Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, head of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, informed the state news agency SANA that polls will be held between September 15 and 20. They will be the first held by the country's new leaders following the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a swift rebel attack in December. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One-third of the 210 seats will be appointed by temporary President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with the remainder to be elected. Another election committee member, Hassan al-Daghim, stated in a recent interview with the Erem News website that an electoral college will be established in every Syrian province to cast votes for the elected seats. In March, al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that called for the creation of a People's Committee to act as a makeshift parliament until the adoption of a permanent constitution and general elections are held, a process that may take years. The recent announcement of upcoming polls coincides with a growing rift in the nation's opinion of the new Damascus government following sectarian violence 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.
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia: Which civilian airports could be rehabilitated in Syria?
This week in Damascus, the first Syrian-Saudi investment forum is being held to secure investment and partnership agreements for the reconstruction of infrastructure in Syria, which was ravaged by 13 years of war and is now ruled by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, after the fall of the Assad regime last December. On the sidelines of this forum, the president of Syria's General Civil Aviation Authority, Omar al-Houssary, announced Thursday that the country will launch a project to build a new international airport in Damascus that could handle up to 30 million passengers a year. He also announced his intention to upgrade the current Damascus airport to increase its capacity to five million passengers per year, and to rehabilitate the Aleppo airport to accommodate two million total, Syria has 55 airfields, most of which are...
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Syria and Saudi Arabia sign investment deals worth £4.4 billion
The agreements signed at the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum cover a wide range of sectors, including property, telecommunications and finance. The planned projects include housing, the reconstruction of war-damaged areas, the development of tourism, medical and entertainment sites, skyscrapers, and three new cement factories. Syrian minister of information Hamza al-Mustafa said the deals are expected to create around 50,000 direct and 150,000 indirect job opportunities. Saudi Arabia has been strongly supportive of the interim government in Syria led by former insurgent commander President Ahmad al-Sharaa since the fall of former president Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive. The country faces major economic and social challenges. The United Nations in 2017 estimated that it would cost at least 250 billion dollars (£185 billion) to rebuild Syria after years of civil war. Some experts now say that number could reach at least 400 billion dollars (£295 billion). The Saudi deals come as a political boost to Syria's interim government at a moment when the country is reeling from a new round of sectarian violence that broke out in the southern province of Sweida earlier this month. Clashes broke out on July 13 between Sunni Muslim Bedouin clans and armed groups of the Druze religious minority, and government security forces who intervened to restore order ended up siding with the Bedouins. Members of the security forces allegedly killed Druze civilians and looted and burned homes. Druze armed groups later launched revenge attacks on Bedouin communities. Israel also intervened, launching strikes on convoys of government forces and on the Syrian Defence Ministry headquarters in Damascus, which Israeli officials said were in defence of the Druze religious minority. Hundreds have been killed, and the UN says more than 130,000 people have been displaced. The fighting has stopped as a ceasefire takes hold, but tensions remain high and the violence has further shaken the trust of religious minorities in the new government.
