Syria forms elections committee for People's Assembly amid calls for transparency

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has issued a presidential decree forming a Supreme Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, marking a key step in the country’s transitional process as outlined in the Constitutional Declaration.

The 11-member committee was established on 14 June under Presidential Decree No. 66.

It will oversee the formation of Syria’s new legislative authority, with broad powers to supervise the electoral process and ensure implementation of Article 24 of the Declaration, which mandates the activation of a transitional legislature with both legislative and executive powers.

The committee is chaired by Muhammad Taha al-Ahmad, a legal scholar and former deputy minister of parliamentary affairs.

According to Ahmad, the electoral process will proceed in two phases.

In the first, subcommittees across governorates will establish electoral bodies comprising 30 to 50 legal professionals per seat. These bodies will then nominate and elect members of the new 150-seat People’s Assembly, of which two-thirds will be elected and one-third appointed by the president.

Seat distribution will follow the 2010 census, with Aleppo receiving the highest allotment at 20 seats, followed by Damascus (11) and the Damascus countryside (10). Other allocations include Homs (9), Hama (8), Idlib (7), Deir Ezzor and Hasakah (6 each), Raqqa (3), and Quneitra (2).

Ahmad clarified that candidate eligibility will be determined by a draft interim elections law, which remains under review. He rejected claims circulating online about candidacy announcements, stating that the nomination process has not yet begun and any such claims are unofficial.

The formation of the committee has drawn mixed reactions from political observers and international stakeholders. UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen welcomed the development, describing it as "an important step" in line with the Constitutional Declaration.

In a statement on social media, he urged the authorities to ensure "transparency, inclusiveness and openness," and called for the effective participation of women.

"The credibility of the new assembly depends on how well it reflects Syria’s unity and diversity," he said.

Pedersen’s comments followed meetings with Syrian officials in Damascus in May, where he emphasised the need for procedural integrity in rebuilding state institutions.

He noted the committee’s formation as a logical progression following the establishment of the Transitional Justice Commission and the High Commission for Missing Persons.

Rafif Jouejati, Vice President of Ahrar – The Syrian Liberal Party, said she welcomed the prospect of elections, but stressed the need for clarity.

"I would like to see more transparency in terms of how and why members of the committee were selected," she told The New Arab.

She questioned why political parties are still unable to register formally.

"If we are going to plan for elections for a ‘People’s Assembly’, why are political parties not allowed to register formally?”

Jouejati also raised concerns about inclusivity.

“How is the government going to ensure inclusivity of women and minorities? Having two women on the committee is a positive step but not enough," she said.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged signs of progress. "Another positive is that this aligns with the Constitutional Declaration, so at least the government is not reversing course."

"It will take a long time before Syria is stable," she added, "and I think we need to support the interim government and highlight the positives, while calling them on issues like accountability, transparency, and inclusivity."

"I suppose it’s a positive development in the sense that the government is talking about elections."