Latest news with #People'sAssembly
Rudaw Net
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syria expects to elect new parliament in August: Official
Also in Syria US-backed forces to launch anti-ISIS operation in Syria: Brigade spox. SDF says 'disinformation campaign' seeks to undermine the force Damascus exhibition honors missing Syrians Syria's torture survivors face health crisis, funding shortfall: Amnesty A+ A- A committee tasked with electing Syria's new parliament expects the vote will take place in August, a Kurdish member of the committee told Rudaw on Friday. "We are now at the stage of visiting Syrian provinces where we are holding meetings with activists, sociologists, politicians, and academics from each province as public gatherings. This is to draft the temporary system for electing People's Assembly members as our program continues. We hope these elections will take place at the end of August," said Mohammed Wali. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa established an 11-member Higher Committee for the Elections of the People's Assembly on June 2 and instructed it to form provincial committees that will be responsible for electing suitable representatives for the assembly. The vote will not be open to the public. Wali said 70 percent of the members of the assembly will be experts and intellectuals while the rest will be notables and dignitaries. One third of the members will be directly chosen by Sharaa. Kurds, who had been deprived of Syrian citizenship for decades, are eligible to become candidates, but people who were granted citizenship after the eruption of the civil war in 2011 are not eligible because of fears that ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad granted citizenship to many Iranian militants, explained Wali. It remains unclear whether the elections will be held in the Kurdish-held northeast (Rojava). Wali said this is linked to political developments. The Rojava administration is in talks with Damascus about integrating into national institutions. Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Sharaa - toppled the regime of Assad on December 8. The new Syrian leadership in late January disbanded the army, dissolved the parliament and annulled the constitution. Sharaa has pledged "free and fair" elections. The interim constitution adopted by Sharaa's government sets out a five-year transition period that gives the president executive authority and the People's Assembly control over legislation. The following is the full transcript of the interview with Wali: Rudaw: Has the official date of the People's Assembly elections been set? Mohammed Wali: We are now at the stage of visiting Syrian provinces where we are holding meetings with activists, sociologists, politicians, and academics from each province as public gatherings. This is to draft the temporary system for electing People's Assembly members as our program continues. We hope these elections will take place at the end of August. Will the elections be held on one day across all provinces, or will each district and province hold elections on different days? The People's Assembly elections will take place across all of Syria on one day. Will elections also be held in the Autonomous Administration [Rojava] areas? Hasaka province, Raqqa province - these are still in our program. We have visited five or six provinces and in the coming days we will go to other provinces. All Syrian provinces, all their people, all their communities, all their components will participate in these elections. In this transitional phase, the electoral system is not direct because of the special situation Syria is going through. There's no possibility for direct elections. As we announced in our meetings with governors, activists, sociologists, and provincial experts, this parliament will be established with two groups: the group of experts and the group of notable community figures. That's why we've set a suitable time frame to try to reach everyone, because this is everyone's right. Will you go to the Autonomous Administration areas? You know there's an agreement between the Syrian state and the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces]. In the coming weeks, if something emerges, if political progress is made... This matter is being discussed within the Higher Committee for the elections of the People's Assembly, it's under consultation. We hope our people, our community will have this right and their representation so we can establish a legislative assembly for the new Syria, a Syria that is a state of law, not the Syria that the [Bashar] Assad regime ruled. The state was tied to laws serving the Assad family and gangs. That's why we're working hard in this transitional phase. We're heading toward a lawful state, which is why Syria needs an assembly that enacts laws serving all Syrian people, with all their components and all citizens, where these laws guarantee freedom and dignity for all citizens. If that's not possible - if you can't go to the Autonomous Administration areas or hold elections there - what would be the alternative solution to ensure their representation in this parliament? What is the mechanism? As we recently announced, we went to some provinces and in the coming days we'll go to the remaining provinces. We're preparing the draft of the temporary electoral system. We're gathering opinions from Syrian citizens, activists, politicians, and academics from society, and we're discussing how to ensure this temporary system serves an election that guarantees representation of the Syrian people with all their components in this People's Assembly. As we announced, political matters will be consulted with the Syrian presidency. We'll see in the coming days. All provincial people have rights that will be guaranteed. Experts or community notables, social dignitaries who become candidates and enter this mechanism we're preparing, who become members of branch committees or electoral candidates - for each province according to statistics, particularly 2010 statistics, each city or area will have members according to conditions and requirements to be included in this system, to be recognized to ensure everyone's representation. Therefore, this system we're looking at is a district-based system. Districts tied to cities... Each province has several areas, each area produces several members of parliament... But Mr. Mohammed, you know and I know that the 2010 census was before the Syrian civil war began. Many changes have occurred in cities, in population numbers, a large portion of people were displaced and became refugees. Will they also have the right to vote? Because we're in this transitional phase, eight million Syrians have become displaced and refugees inside Syria. They are not on their land, not in their civil registry, they're in countries neighboring Syria, scattered around the world. That's why this system is not direct. It was designed so we can properly and clearly have an assembly that represents the Syrian people. The main goal of this assembly is to free Syrians from the laws that the collapsed regime had imposed, that kept the Syrian state backward and served a gang while opposing its own citizens. In this coming assembly, the assembly's duty is to enact laws that serve Syrian citizens and ensure Syria's strength. That's why we announced the People's Assembly will have two groups, according to Syrian presidential decree number 66 that was issued: 70 percent will be the group of social experts and the second group of 30 percent will be community notables or social dignitaries. What are the criteria and requirements for someone to become a member of the People's Assembly? As a start, according to some conditions and requirements we've set based on our visits, the person who becomes an electoral candidate must meet these conditions and requirements. One of these conditions is that they must be a Syrian citizen. It is okay to have a second citizenship because as you know the Syrian regime forced many people to leave the country and seek other citizenship. First, they must be Syrian citizens. Secondly, they must be over 25 years old, they must not have criminal convictions except for security or political convictions, because the collapsed Assad regime convicted millions of people on political or security grounds. The person who becomes a candidate must not be a governor, minister, or their deputies, and must not be members of the Syrian army or security personnel. Their reputation and character in society must be good. Will you consider the condition of Kurds who were deprived of Syrian citizenship for decades, but later obtained it? As I said before, in the committee, we discussed this. The Syrians who were deprived of Syrian citizenship by the Assad regime are eligible to become candidates. Syrians and Kurds who obtained citizenship before May 2011 are eligible to become candidates. The reason we are focusing on that date is that the ousted regime of Assad had granted Iranian and sectarian militias citizenship [after May 2011]. This caused demographic change. Therefore, we at the committee said that people who were citizens of Syria before 2011 can become candidates.
Scoop
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘Syria Simply Cannot Withstand Another Wave Of Instability,' Security Council Hears
17 June 2025 'Syria simply cannot withstand another wave of instability,' UN Deputy Special Envoy Najat Rochdi said on Tuesday in a briefing to the Security Council in New York. ' The risks of further escalation in the region are not hypothetical – they are immediate, severe, and risk unraveling the fragile progress toward peace and recovery in Syria.' She echoed the Secretary-General's condemnation of military escalation in Middle East and his call on Israel and Iran to show maximum restraint. The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has also expressed growing alarm over the potential consequences of any further escalation, which she also conveyed. 'Constructive and cooperative' engagement Ms. Rochdi reported on the Special Envoy's ongoing engagement in recent months, such as meetings with senior officials in Damascus, including interim foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. Their discussions focused on recent positive developments in international relations as well as the importance of prioritizing domestic affairs towards a genuinely inclusive political transition in which all Syrians have a stake. Overall, the meetings with Syrian officials 'were marked by a constructive and cooperative tone, with a shared interest in strengthening engagement with the United Nations across multiple sectors,' she said. Road to transition 'Particular attention was given to the next steps in the transition and to coordinating efforts with the newly established committees on transitional justice and missing persons,' she added. Among the important next steps is the establishment of a new People's Assembly as the transitional legislative authority. In this regard, she welcomed the recent presidential decree announcing the appointment of a supreme committee for elections to the Assembly. The committee will be responsible for supervising the indirect election of 100 of the 150 members of the People's Assembly via electoral colleges, she explained. It will also define the electoral timeframe and eligibility conditions for electors and candidates. 'We encourage the Supreme Committee to take measures that safeguard inclusivity, transparency and openness in all stages of this process,' she said. Developments in the northeast Turning to the northeast, Ms. Rochdi referred to the 10 March deal reached between the interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls the region, to integrate the Kurdish-led group into the national army. The agreement ' continues to present a historical opportunity to solve one of the key outstanding issues in this conflict and restore Syria's sovereignty and unity, a priority which the Special Envoy discussed with interim Foreign Minister Shaibani.' She also welcomed recent detainee exchanges as well as cooperation that enabled several Syrian families at the Al-Hol camp to return to the northwest. Thousands of people from several countries have been held for years at the notorious complex for their alleged ties to ISIL extremists. 'We stress the importance of negotiations moving forward in earnest with bold steps and an active spirit of compromise from both sides to implement the 10 March agreement,' Ms. Rochdi told ambassadors. 'This is a priority for stability in Syria and the region, for the restoration of Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, and for the success of the overall political transition.' Women and civil society Special Envoy Pedersen also engaged with a broad spectrum of Syrians including women, who continue to seek greater representation in leadership positions, including as candidates and delegates in the process for the People's Assembly. 'Syrian civil society representatives also continue to be active on all fronts working for a new Syria founded on the principles of inclusivity, openness, and transparent participatory processes,' she added. She stressed that the protection and safety of all components of society, along with prevention of incitement of communal tensions, 'are absolute cornerstones for stability.' Attacks against specific communities She noted that sporadic violent incidents continued in Homs, Hama and other regions, including killings, kidnappings and infringements on individual liberties. Furthermore, some of the people that the Special Envoy met in Damascus voiced concern over ongoing attacks targeting specific communities and groups, including Alawites, Druze, and women. 'While many interlocutors emphasized that these incidents did not appear to be systematic or part of official policy, they highlighted the persistent challenges faced by the interim authorities in controlling certain groups - whether affiliated with the interim authorities or operating independently,' she said. Ms. Rochdi also pointed to encouraging signs the interim authorities have taken to ease tensions such as the recent issuance of a fatwa that prohibits revenge killings and extrajudicial retaliation. Additionally, recent decisions to reinstate judges who were removed by the former regime represent a welcome step towards rebuilding trust between the judiciary and the population. Respect Syria's sovereignty Meanwhile, other security challenges persist, with sporadic and limited acts of violence this month, including at a border post with Iraq and on contact lines in Deir-ez-Zor, and in rural Homs. 'The southwest saw a serious incident of Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes on military sites and weapons depots across southern Syria, in response to a rare incident of small rocket fires out of Syria into the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan,' she continued, noting that two groups unaffiliated with the interim authorities claimed responsibility. Additionally, Israeli incursions, arrests, and drone strikes occurred last week in Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, which she said are unacceptable and must cease. ' Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected, along with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Diplomacy is possible and must be prioritised,' she said. Ms. Rochdi further reported that 'ongoing activity by ISIL remains notable, including attacks on SDF positions, and a US drone strike on an ISIL figure in northwest Syria.' Returnees and economic measures Before concluding, Ms. Rochdi reported that despite the fragile security and socioeconomic situation in their homeland, nearly 600,000 people are estimated to have returned to Syria in the past six months, mostly from neighbouring countries. An estimated 1.34 million displaced people inside Syria have also gone back to their areas of origin during the same period. She said the UN continues to welcome and encourage international actions which contribute to the reactivation of Syria's economy. They include a six-month waiver of some US sanctions, the European Union's (EU) lifting of economic sanctions, and a broad range of transactions authorized by the United Kingdom to facilitate commercial activity in some key sectors. She also hailed a large contract for the construction of several gas and solar energy plants, signed between the interim authorities and a consortium of regional and international actors. 'These projects are expected to supply more than half of Syria's national electricity needs, representing a big leap toward energy security, economic revival, and infrastructure resilience,' she said.
North Wales Chronicle
07-06-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Thousands gather for anti-austerity demonstration in London
Campaign group The People's Assembly said it expected trade unionists, campaigners and activists to attend the event in central London on Saturday. MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott are among those expected to give speeches at a rally in Whitehall. The organisers accused the Government of making spending cuts that target the poorest in society. Representatives from the National Education Union, Revolutionary Communist Party, Green Party and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union could all be seen at the march's start point in Portland Place. The large crowd then set off towards Whitehall shortly before 1pm. Many of the protesters were holding placards that read 'Tax the rich, stop the cuts – welfare not warfare'. Other signs being held aloft said 'Nurses not nukes' and 'Cut war, not welfare'. A People's Assembly spokesperson said: 'The adherence to 'fiscal rules' traps us in a public service funding crisis, increasing poverty, worsening mental health and freezing public sector pay. 'Scrapping winter fuel payments, keeping the Tory two-child benefit cap, abandoning Waspi women, cutting £5 billion of welfare by limiting Pip and universal credit eligibility, and slashing UK foreign aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP, while increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, are presented as 'tough choices'. 'Real tough choices would be for a Labour government to tax the rich and their hidden wealth, to fund public services, fair pay, investment in communities and the NHS.' The People's Assembly said it is bringing together trade unionists, health, disability, housing, and welfare campaigners with community organisations under the slogan: No to Austerity2.0. There will be also be speeches from trade union leaders, disability rights activists, anti-poverty campaigners and groups calling for more investment in the NHS and other public services. The spokesperson added: 'We face a growing threat from the far right, fuelled by racism, division and failed politics. We need to see people's lives improve, we need to see the vulnerable cared for and an end to child poverty. 'On June 7, we march for education, for our NHS, for welfare, for refugees, against hate, and for a society in which our children can flourish.'
South Wales Argus
07-06-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Thousands gather for anti-austerity demonstration in London
Campaign group The People's Assembly said it expected trade unionists, campaigners and activists to attend the event in central London on Saturday. MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott are among those expected to give speeches at a rally in Whitehall. The organisers accused the Government of making spending cuts that target the poorest in society. Representatives from the National Education Union, Revolutionary Communist Party, Green Party and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union could all be seen at the march's start point in Portland Place. The large crowd then set off towards Whitehall shortly before 1pm. Many of the protesters were holding placards that read 'Tax the rich, stop the cuts – welfare not warfare'. Other signs being held aloft said 'Nurses not nukes' and 'Cut war, not welfare'. A People's Assembly spokesperson said: 'The adherence to 'fiscal rules' traps us in a public service funding crisis, increasing poverty, worsening mental health and freezing public sector pay. Thousands of people were taking part in the march (Lucy North/PA) 'Scrapping winter fuel payments, keeping the Tory two-child benefit cap, abandoning Waspi women, cutting £5 billion of welfare by limiting Pip and universal credit eligibility, and slashing UK foreign aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP, while increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, are presented as 'tough choices'. 'Real tough choices would be for a Labour government to tax the rich and their hidden wealth, to fund public services, fair pay, investment in communities and the NHS.' The People's Assembly said it is bringing together trade unionists, health, disability, housing, and welfare campaigners with community organisations under the slogan: No to Austerity2.0. There will be also be speeches from trade union leaders, disability rights activists, anti-poverty campaigners and groups calling for more investment in the NHS and other public services. The spokesperson added: 'We face a growing threat from the far right, fuelled by racism, division and failed politics. We need to see people's lives improve, we need to see the vulnerable cared for and an end to child poverty. 'On June 7, we march for education, for our NHS, for welfare, for refugees, against hate, and for a society in which our children can flourish.'
Powys County Times
07-06-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Thousands gather for anti-austerity demonstration in London
Thousands of people have gathered to 'send a message' to the Government with a demonstration over spending cuts and welfare reform. Campaign group The People's Assembly said it expected trade unionists, campaigners and activists to attend the event in central London on Saturday. MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott are among those expected to give speeches at a rally in Whitehall. The organisers accused the Government of making spending cuts that target the poorest in society. Representatives from the National Education Union, Revolutionary Communist Party, Green Party and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union could all be seen at the march's start point in Portland Place. The large crowd then set off towards Whitehall shortly before 1pm. Many of the protesters were holding placards that read 'Tax the rich, stop the cuts – welfare not warfare'. Other signs being held aloft said 'Nurses not nukes' and 'Cut war, not welfare'. A People's Assembly spokesperson said: 'The adherence to 'fiscal rules' traps us in a public service funding crisis, increasing poverty, worsening mental health and freezing public sector pay. 'Scrapping winter fuel payments, keeping the Tory two-child benefit cap, abandoning Waspi women, cutting £5 billion of welfare by limiting Pip and universal credit eligibility, and slashing UK foreign aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP, while increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, are presented as 'tough choices'. 'Real tough choices would be for a Labour government to tax the rich and their hidden wealth, to fund public services, fair pay, investment in communities and the NHS.' The People's Assembly said it is bringing together trade unionists, health, disability, housing, and welfare campaigners with community organisations under the slogan: No to Austerity2.0. There will be also be speeches from trade union leaders, disability rights activists, anti-poverty campaigners and groups calling for more investment in the NHS and other public services. The spokesperson added: 'We face a growing threat from the far right, fuelled by racism, division and failed politics. We need to see people's lives improve, we need to see the vulnerable cared for and an end to child poverty. 'On June 7, we march for education, for our NHS, for welfare, for refugees, against hate, and for a society in which our children can flourish.'
