Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has announced that elections may not be held in Syria for up to four years. In his first comments on an electoral timeline since the rebel group he leads overthrew President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, Al-Sharaa said his interim government needs to prepare the infrastructure before holding elections.
Al-Sharaa, leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), also plans to write a new constitution that may take up to three years to draft. He emphasized the need for a strong foundation for the country and warned against repeating past mistakes.
Al-Sharaa’s comments come amid international efforts to establish legitimacy for his government. A Ukrainian delegation led by foreign minister Andrii Sybiha recently met with him, while European delegations from the UK, France, Germany, and others have also engaged in talks. The US has also lifted a $10 million bounty on Al-Sharaa’s head.
Al-Sharaa seeks to distance himself from his extremist past and build relationships with regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s role in Syria’s future and urged Iran to reassess its involvement in the region. The Syrian government is working towards a national dialogue conference, which will announce plans for HTS’ eventual dissolution.
The delay in elections reflects the challenges of establishing a stable government in post-Assad Syria. Al-Sharaa’s comments highlight the complexity of the situation and the need for international support to establish legitimacy and facilitate a peaceful transition.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/middleeast/syria-elections-four-years-intl/index.html