Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, indicated that elections in the war-torn country could take up to four years. He also stated that Syrians might see significant changes within a year. Sharaa's comments follow the recent victory of the HTS group, which ended the 13-year civil war.
Holding elections in Syria could take up to four years, the country’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said in remarks broadcast on Sunday, in his first comments on a possible electoral timetable since. He also said it would take about a year for Syria ns to see drastic changes in their country. This comes as the new government in Damascus has been seeking to reassure its neighbours that it has moved away from its roots in Islamist militancy.
The group’s lightning campaign ended a 13-year civil war but has left a host of questions about the future of a multi-ethnic country where foreign states including Turkey and Russia have strong and potentially competing interests. It remains unclear whether the new governing group will impose strict Islamic rule or show flexibility and move towards democracy. Sharaa said HTS, formerly known as the Nusra Front, would be dissolved at a national dialogue conference. When asked about dissolving the group, Sharaa said: “Of course. A country cannot be run by the mentality of groups and militias.” The group was once affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda but has since renounced both terrorist organisations and sought to reposition itself as a force for moderation. It has repeatedly vowed to protect minority groups, who fear the new rulers could seek to impose an Islamist government, and has warned of attempts to incite sectarian strife. According to Sharaa, the national dialogue conference would include wide participation by Syrian society with votes on issues such as dissolving the parliament and the constitution. As fighting continues in north-eastern Syria, Sharaa said there were talks with all parties to resolve remaining disputes, including with the US-allied Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). “We reject Syria becoming a platform for the Kurdistan Workers Party to launch attacks against Turkey,” he said
Syria Elections Ahmed Al-Sharaa HTS Political Future
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