By Syria’s parliamentary elections, held on Monday, have resulted in President Bashar Assad’s Baath Party and its allies securing a majority of seats, as announced by election officials on Thursday. The vote, which took place across 8,151 centers in government-held areas, saw 1,516 candidates competing for 250 parliamentary seats.
The Baath Party and its allied parties presented a list of 185 candidates, all of whom won seats as expected. This marks an increase from the 177 seats the coalition secured in the 2020 elections. The remaining 65 seats were open for competition among other candidates.
Jihad Murad, head of the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections, stated that the results “reflected the broadest representation of the Syrian people in their various groups and sectors.” However, the election process was not without controversy. Voting had to be repeated in several districts, including Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and Daraa, due to reported irregularities such as double voting. Some electoral center heads were referred to the judiciary for alleged violations.
Voter turnout was reported at 38% of the 19.2 million eligible voters. Notably, Syrians in the diaspora were not eligible to participate in these parliamentary elections, unlike in presidential votes.
This election, the fourth since the onset of Syria’s civil war in March 2011, holds particular significance as President Assad faces term limits that would end his presidency in 2028. There is widespread expectation that the new parliament will attempt to pass a constitutional amendment to extend Assad’s term. Such an amendment would require a three-quarters majority, or 188 votes, just slightly more than the number of seats held by the Baath Party and its allies.
The election results and the potential for a constitutional amendment underscore the continued dominance of Assad’s regime in Syrian politics, despite the ongoing challenges faced by the country after years of conflict. As Syria moves forward, the international community will be closely watching the actions of this new parliament and their implications for the country’s political future.
