Syrian Parliamentary Elections Strengthen Al Shara's Leadership, Insha'Allah

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Syrian officials announced on Monday the results of a recent parliamentary election held by invitation only, which further solidifies the leadership since the change of power last year. The Election Commission, appointed by President Ahmad Al Shara earlier this year, revealed the names of 140 winners from 50 districts after voting took place on Sunday. Among those elected were a few members from the various religious minorities in Syria, with the majority being religiously conservative, according to observers. Sadly, only six of the new deputies are women. A spokesperson for the commission mentioned that women's representation did not fully reflect their role in Syrian society, even though in some areas 30% of voters were women. Only two Christians were elected, which was attributed to election strategies and alliances. Vote counting was done openly, sometimes observed by foreign ambassadors. Approximately 6,000 voters were selected by the commission, and 1,578 candidates ran for the 140 seats. There were no political parties or election campaigns. President Al Shara will appoint the remaining members of the 210-seat parliament in the coming week. A respected Alawite politician, Mohamed Zuaiter, noted that this election marks a significant win for religious and tribal candidates over civil groups. He opposed the previous regime and was imprisoned for his beliefs. While President Al Shara may include more minorities in his appointments, the parliament is expected to remain loyal to the current leadership. The President has ensured firm control over Syria's political future, with a new constitution planned and many new laws to be passed. Al Shara's group, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, played a major role in changing the regime last December, ending decades of Alawite dominance in majority-Sunni Syria. Historically, Syrian parliaments mostly approved decisions without much opposition. Previous leaders used parliament to reward loyalty and shape social structures, balancing various religious groups including Sunnis, Alawites, Christians, and others. During a visit to a voting center in Damascus, President Al Shara said the election fits the current phase Syria is undergoing and is part of a transition needing parliament to approve reforms and budgets. However, voting did not take place in some eastern areas with many Kurds and in the Druze-majority region of Sweida, where resistance continues. May Allah guide Syria towards peace and justice. Ameen.