Security concerns in three provinces have delayed the People’s Assembly elections [Getty]
The Higher Committee for the People’s Assembly Elections (HCPAE) has been postponed in three Syrian provinces due to security challenges, The New Arab’s Arabic language sister publication, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, reported.
Dr. Nawar Najma, a member of the HCPAE told the official SANA news agency that in order to ensure fair representation in the governorates of Suweida, Hasaka, and Raqqa, the postponement was essential.
As the HCPAE media spokesperson, Najma added that the elections would take place at a later date, when conditions and the environment were safer.
Najma went on to say that the three governorates’ share of seats will remain reserved until elections are held.
The delay in Suweida comes following weeks of armed clashes between Druze groups and government forces supported by local tribes, which have resulted in hundreds of deaths.
On 19 July, a ceasefire was announced, however the situation remains tense.
Mohammed Taha al-Ahmed, the head of the Supreme Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, said the timeframe following the signing of the decree establishing the temporary electoral system will be one week to select subcommittees, followed by 15 days to select electoral bodies.
Then the door will be opened for nominations for three days, followed by an additional week for campaigning and debates between candidates. The entire electoral process will take place between 15 and 20 September.
Last June, Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree forming a parliamentary elections committee, setting the number of seats in the people’s assembly at 150.
Al-Ahmad later announced that the number of seats would be increased to 210, with one-third to be appointed directly by Shaara, compared to two-thirds through elections.
