Syria’s transitional government on Monday began releasing the preliminary results of the country's first parliamentary election since the fall of the Assad regime, a vote hailed by officials as a pivotal step towards a new, democratic future. However, the milestone event has been significantly undermined by a widespread boycott across northeastern Syria, where local political and social leaders have dismissed the process as illegitimate, exposing the deep fractures that continue to divide the war-torn nation.
The High Electoral Commission in Damascus announced initial tallies from various provinces, showing a mix of established political figures and new independent candidates securing seats. As reported by Dailynewsegypt on Monday, the transitional government praised the voter turnout in the areas it controls, framing the election as a historic moment of national healing and rebirth. State-affiliated media broadcast images of citizens lining up to cast their ballots in cities like Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo, portraying an atmosphere of cautious optimism for a nation eager to turn the page on decades of authoritarian rule and devastating conflict.
In stark contrast to the official narrative, the election was largely ignored in the territories governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). A report from the local Hawar News Agency (ANHA) detailed how political and social figures in the region have publicly declared the transitional government's elections as lacking legitimacy. These leaders argue that the current electoral framework was established without their participation or consultation, failing to represent the diverse ethnic and political fabric of the country, particularly its significant Kurdish population. Citing a lack of inclusivity and trust in the Damascus-based authorities, they snubbed the vote entirely, with polling stations remaining non-existent throughout the region.
The dueling realities highlight the immense challenge of unifying Syria after more than a decade of civil war. The election was intended by international mediators to be a cornerstone of a political transition plan, designed to create a representative government capable of drafting a new constitution. Analysts, however, have long warned that a successful transition would require a comprehensive national dialogue and a consensus-based approach, something critics in the northeast claim has been absent from the current process.
As the final results are prepared for certification later this week, the outcome is already clear: a new parliament will soon convene in Damascus, but it will lack a mandate from a significant portion of the country's territory and population. The boycott in the northeast serves as a potent reminder that the end of one regime has not automatically healed the nation’s deep-seated divisions. The key question now facing the transitional government is whether it can bridge this legitimacy gap or if the election will only entrench the political fragmentation that continues to plague Syria’s path to peace.