PYD official says election boycott reflects protest over representation
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A leading figure in the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Aldar Khalil, said on Monday that the boycott of the recent parliamentary elections in Syria’s northeast is not a rejection of political participation or elections in principle, but rather a protest stance over what he described as the absence of fair representation.
In a statement published on Facebook, Khalil said: “The boycott of the parliamentary elections does not mean rejecting political work or the principle of elections itself, but rather expresses a protest position regarding the absence of justice in representation and the transformation of parliament into an institution that has lost its real role.”
On Sunday, the Syrian government conducted parliamentary elections covering the areas of Hasakah, Qamishli, Derik, and Kobani. A designated electoral body in each area cast votes, resulting in the selection of 11 members to represent these regions in the Syrian parliament.
Khalil stated that the decision to boycott the elections in Hasakah was not a temporary reaction but the outcome of what he described as a “clear political reading” of the current stage and the mechanism through which the electoral process is managed in Syria.
He stressed that participation in any elections should be based on what he described as genuine and fair representation of all Syrian components, alongside a political will that ensures an elected council functions as a legislative and oversight body reflecting the will of the people, rather than a formal structure used to pass decisions and grant legitimacy.
He added that any successful political process in Syria must be based on genuine national partnership, recognition of all components, and ensuring fair representation across state institutions.
Khalil also pointed to the number of seats allocated to Hasakah province and to the Kurdish population in particular, saying they do not reflect the actual demographic reality or the historical and political presence of Kurds in Syria.
He further noted that “the way electoral districts were organized in Hasakah raised many questions and objections,” according to his Facebook post.