Syrians will hold snap elections for the People’s Council (Majlis al-Sha’b), a local parliament, from September 15 to 20, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad, the head of the country’s Electoral Commission, which was established in June.
A day earlier, al-Ahmad approved the election plans proposed by Syria’s acting President Ahmed al-Shara’i (also known as Mohammad al-Julani). According to the head of the Syrian Electoral Commission, after al-Shara’i signs the relevant decree, Syria will form electoral bodies within three weeks, after which candidates will be able to submit their applications and hold debates.
According to the plan, the People’s Council of the Republic will consist of 210 deputies. However, only two-thirds of them will be elected by popular vote. The remaining 70 members will be appointed by the president. During the transition period, the parliament will be responsible for drafting new legislation for Syria and helping to create a permanent constitution for the country.
In March, the Al-Sharaa party signed a constitutional declaration for the transition period, according to which the term of office of the interim parliament will initially be three years, after which this body can be re-elected.
At the same time, the People’s Council will have the right to remove the head of state from office or limit his powers. At the same time, the document stipulates that at the initial stage, supreme executive power will be exercised only by the president.