Kurdish-led authority rejects holding Syrian government parliamentary elections in northeastern Syria

A woman casts her vote in an election in Syria - Reuters

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration in Northern and Eastern Syria stated the People's Council’s elections of the Syrian government not to be held in northeastern Syria.

"Certainly, these elections will not take place in the areas of the Autonomous Administration," Abdul Hamid al-Mahbash, co-chair of the Executive Body of the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria, said in response to North Press’ question about the possibility of holding parliamentary elections in their areas of control.

Since its establishment in November 2013, the Autonomous Administration does not allow any elections to be conducted by the Syrian government in its areas.

The elections for the People's council are held once every four years, and it is considered a body that has held the legislative authority in the country since 1971, and it consists of / 250 / members divided into categories and segments. As government lists often win without the need for electoral propaganda.

These elections come at a time when Turkey took control over large areas in the north of the country, and the largest part of Idlib governorate is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as most areas in northeastern Syria are under the control of the Autonomous Administration.

Mahbash added that "these elections do not represent the entire Syrians” , noting that they are taking place at a time when half of the Syrian population is absent from its land.

This year’s elections are taking place as the Syrian war enters its tenth year, which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions of Syrians, in addition to destroying most of the infrastructure of the country.

This year’s elections coincide with the deteriorating economic situation in the country due to the collapse of the Syrian pound against foreign currencies and the start of the implementation of Caesar sanctions imposed by the U.S on individuals and companies related to the Syrian government.

The elections were scheduled for April 13, but by separate decrees of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the elections were postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, to be held on July 19.

(Reporting by Hosheng Hessan; Editing by Hisham Arafat)