The results of Syria’s parliamentary elections were announced on Thursday, revealing that President Bashar Assad’s Baath Party secured a majority of seats, as anticipated. The elections, which took place on Monday at 8,151 centers in government-controlled areas, saw voting repeated in certain districts due to reported irregularities such as double voting by some individuals. Electoral officials referred the heads of several polling stations to the judiciary for alleged electoral violations.
A total of 1,516 candidates vied for the 250 parliamentary seats, with only 65 seats considered to be genuinely competitive. The Baath Party and its affiliated parties put forth a list of 185 candidates, all of whom typically secure seats if they pass through the party primaries. The final results confirmed that all 185 candidates from the Baath Party and its allies were victorious, marking an increase from the coalition's 2020 performance of 177 seats.
The voter turnout was reported at 38% of the 19.2 million eligible voters, with Syrians in the diaspora not eligible to participate in parliamentary elections. Jihad Murad, the head of the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections, stated that the election results demonstrated a broad representation of the Syrian populace across various groups and sectors.
This election marks the fourth since the onset of the country’s civil war in March 2011. With President Assad facing term limits that would conclude his presidency in 2028, it is widely anticipated that the upcoming parliament will seek to pass a constitutional amendment to extend his term. Such an amendment necessitates a three-quarters majority, equivalent to 188 votes, slightly surpassing the number of seats held by the Baath Party and its allies. However, nominally independent candidates are generally perceived to be aligned with the government.
