Kurdish Politician Questions Political Value of Syria’s Planned Elections
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A senior Kurdish politician has described the upcoming parliamentary elections organized by the Syrian Interim Government as politically and legally insignificant, raising concerns about their relevance in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
Speaking to North Press, Dr. Azad Ahmed, Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Kurdish Unity Party in Syria, said the elections fall short of democratic standards and have little chance of success. The comments were made at a political dialogue held by his party Thursday at Beland Hall in Kobani, with attendance from political representatives, independent figures, intellectuals, and community leaders.
Ahmed noted that the Syrian Transitional Government’s decision to exclude AANES-administered areas from the elections carries both positive and negative implications. “On one hand, it allows the region to preserve its distinct administrative autonomy,” he said. “On the other, it shows that the new authorities have not fully overcome chauvinistic attitudes and remain hesitant to adopt participatory solutions.
The Kurdish politician also pointed out that the planned elections involve appointed members rather than fully representative voting, calling their credibility into question. “It is better not to assign these elections undue importance, as they lack real political and legal weight,” he said
Ahmed added that the Transitional Government has not confirmed whether it will carry out the vote in AANES areas, and emphasized that any decisions issued will be met with rational responses rather than political confrontation from Kurdish leaders.
The dialogue in Kobani also served to reinforce local governance and the role of Kurdish political institutions in maintaining stability and community engagement in northern Syria, areas under the oversight of the SDF and AANES. The event underscored the continuing commitment of local political actors to dialogue and coordination within the region’s governance framework.