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Syria began its first parliamentary elections Sunday since the collapse of the Assad regime, with 6,000 electors casting ballots for the 210-seat People's Assembly.
Electoral centers across Syrian provinces opened at 9:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) to receive members of electoral bodies, according to the Syrian news agency SANA.
Polls were scheduled to close at 5:00 p.m. (1400 GMT).
The indirect vote marks a significant milestone in Syria's post-regime transition, with electors casting ballots at regional electoral colleges rather than through direct public voting.
Members of the electoral colleges will select representatives from 1578 candidates for Syria’s new People’s Assembly, which SANA describes as "an important step" in the country's rebuilding process.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa approved the temporary electoral law with a decree on Aug. 27 after receiving the final draft in late July.
The decree established conditions for the electoral process, eligibility for membership in the People's Assembly, and voting procedures.
One-third of the Assembly's 210 seats will be appointed directly by the president, while the remaining two-thirds will be elected through the current mechanism.
Officials stated that the system is temporary and is related to current circumstances.
A committee appointed by Sharaa approved 1,570 candidates who presented their platforms in seminars and debates this week.
Public campaigning was muted, with no posters or billboards visible in major cities, according to Reuters reporters reporting on Sunday.
Bashar Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December 2024, ending the Baath Party regime that had been in power since 1963. Sharaa's transitional administration was formed in January.
Since Assad's ouster, Syria's new government has pursued political and economic reforms while promoting social cohesion and expanding cooperation with regional and international partners.
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