Syria is holding parliamentary elections for the first time since the ousting of longtime leader Bashar al-Assad — a milestone in the country’s fragile political transition after nearly 14 years of conflict.
On Sunday, members of Syria’s electoral colleges cast their votes to select new lawmakers for the revamped 210-seat People’s Assembly. However, the process has drawn sharp criticism from observers, who argue it lacks democratic legitimacy. A third of the seats are appointed directly by interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, while the remaining members are chosen indirectly by electoral colleges rather than through a popular vote.
Critics say the system entrenches the power of Syria’s new leadership instead of opening the door to real democratic reform. In a joint statement last month, over a dozen non-governmental organisations warned that al-Sharaa “can effectively shape a parliamentary majority composed of individuals he selected or ensured loyalty from,” thereby “undermining the principle of pluralism essential to any genuine democratic process.”
“You can call the process what you like, but not elections,” said Bassam Alahmad, executive director of France-based Syrians for Truth and Justice, one of the signatories of the statement, in remarks to AFP.
Meanwhile, voting has been indefinitely suspended in the restive Druze-majority province of Suwayda and in Kurdish-controlled areas of the northeast, due to ongoing tensions between local authorities and the central government in Damascus.
Authorities in Beijing have identified the pilot killed in last week's plane crash into the city's tallest building as a 66-year-old man surnamed Liu,...
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Ho...
The European Union has announced an additional €18 million ($20.5 million) in economic assistance for Armenia and moved to ease export rules for Arm...
Alphabet's Google has lost its final appeal against a multibillion-euro European Union antitrust penalty over its Android mobile operating system, han...
Kazakhstan will hold a snap parliamentary election on 23 August under a decree signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, paving the way for a new con...
Authorities in Beijing have identified the pilot killed in last week's plane crash into the city's tallest building as a 66-year-old man surnamed Liu, as officials sought to address growing speculation over the rare incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The European Union has announced an additional €18 million ($20.5 million) in economic assistance for Armenia and moved to ease export rules for Armenian goods, as Brussels seeks to strengthen ties with the South Caucasus country amid growing Russian trade pressure.
Alphabet's Google has lost its final appeal against a multibillion-euro European Union antitrust penalty over its Android mobile operating system, handing regulators a major victory in efforts to curb the power of Big Tech.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The European Union has announced an additional €18 million ($20.5 million) in economic assistance for Armenia and moved to ease export rules for Armenian goods, as Brussels seeks to strengthen ties with the South Caucasus country amid growing Russian trade pressure.
Kazakhstan will hold a snap parliamentary election on 23 August under a decree signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, paving the way for a new constitutional system in the Central Asian state.
Syria is open to direct talks with Hezbollah if its national interests require it, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani said during a visit to Lebanon on Thursday (2 July).
When NATO leaders gather in Ankara on 7-8 July, defence spending will dominate the agenda. The summit come as all NATO members for the first time have spent at least 2 per cent of gross domestic produce (GDP) on defence, a target which was adopted in 2014.
The European Union will provide up to €200 million in grant funding to improve transport, energy and digital links across the South Caucasus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during a visit to Baku on Wednesday.
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