Syrian politician calls for decentralized governance in Syria
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Abdul Hamed al-Mahbash, a politician and president of the Future Syria Party, asserted on Tuesday that a decentralized governance system is crucial for a pluralistic Syria following the fall of the al-Assad regime.
Al-Mahbash emphasized that Syria’s rich diversity of nationalities and religious factions makes centralized rule unsustainable.
Since the regime’s collapse on Dec. 8, Syrians have been calling for a national dialogue to shape the country’s future.
Speaking to North Press, al-Mahbash stated, “The upcoming national conference in Syria, which will determine the country’s governance model, must include all political parties and movements as entities, rather than individuals, alongside independent Syrian figures who play an active role in society.”
He stressed that “No Syrian group should be excluded from the conference—everyone must be represented.”
Reflecting on past restrictions, he added, “Political activity was completely prohibited for us in Damascus, and central authority was monopolized there, which ultimately led to the collapse of the system. The era of centralized governance is over.”
Al-Mahbash concluded by advocating for a balanced distribution of power between the central government and regional authorities, ensuring both national unity and the dignity of the state.