Syria holds first parliamentary elections since Assad’s fall

• Syria holds transitional parliament vote: Local committees begin selecting representatives, with a third of seats appointed by President Sharaa.

• Election commission reports smooth process, though Sweida and Kurdish-controlled areas are not participating; preliminary results expected soon.

Members of local committees in Syria began selecting representatives for a transitional parliament on Sunday. 

A third of the 210-member assembly will be directly appointed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, while the remaining two-thirds will be selected by local committees appointed by the electoral commission, which was appointed by Sharaa.

The head of Syria’s Supreme Election Commission, Mohammed Al-Ahmad, said the elections are “proceeding smoothly and steadily,” describing them as the first real experience in which Syrians choose their representatives. 

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Speaking to SANA from the National Library in Damascus, he noted that high voter turnout could prompt the commission to extend polling hours at some centers.

“It is possible that we will resort to extending hours at certain polling stations due to the large turnout of voters,” he said.

Al-Ahmad called the elections “an important moment awaited by Syrians” and an opportunity to involve local communities in decision-making. 

He expressed gratitude to Arab and friendly diplomatic delegations observing the process and hoped the elections would contribute to Syria’s development and prosperity.

According to the organizing committee, over 1,500 candidates are running for the assembly, 14 percent of them women, and the body will have a renewable 30-month mandate.

Al-Ahmad confirmed that polling centers in Damascus and other provinces had been inspected, including ballot boxes, envelopes, and secret voting rooms, to ensure a smooth and transparent process.

However, Southern Syria’s Druze-majority Sweida province, as well as the country’s Kurdish-controlled northeast, are not participating in the elections for now as they are outside Damascus’s control.

Their 32 parliamentary seats will remain empty.

Nearly 6,000 people are taking part in Sunday's selection process.

Preliminary results are expected once voting concludes, with state television reporting that some centers have already begun counting ballots.

The final list of names is due to be announced on Monday.