Editing Elections in Syria (section)

==Transitional government==
In December 2024, the [[Syrian opposition]] successfully [[Fall of Damascus (2024)|captured Damascus]] and led to the [[fall of the Assad regime]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bashar al-Assad: Sudden downfall ends decades of family's iron rule |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=December 9, 2024 |access-date=2025-01-18 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10338256}}</ref> Afterwards, the opposition announced the creation of the [[Syrian transitional government]] to stabilize the war-torn nation and provide basic services to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What to know about Syria's new caretaker government |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |date=December 15, 2024 |access-date=2025-01-18 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/15/what-to-know-about-syrias-new-caretaker-government}}</ref> 

Since the transition began, there have been concerns over its future governance direction. The main organization in the government, [[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham|HTS]] has [[Islamist]] origins, and there are fears that they may try to delay elections.<ref name="4years">{{Cite news |date=29 December 2024|title=Syria's de facto leader says holding elections could take up to four years|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/29/syrias-de-facto-leader-says-holding-elections-could-take-up/ |access-date=30 December 2024}}</ref><ref name="FrGe" /> Due to the need to first draft and approve a new [[2025 Interim Constitution of Syria|constitution]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Syria's Rebel Leader Offers Hint of Timetable for Potential Elections |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 30, 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/world/middleeast/syria-rebel-leader-elections.html}}</ref> there is not yet any official announcements of candidacy.

=== Timing ===
There are varying statements from Syrian officials over the expected timing of future elections. [[Hadi al-Bahra]], president of the [[Syrian National Coalition]], said that an 18-month transitional period was needed to establish "a safe, neutral, and quiet environment" for free elections, as outlined in the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254|UNSC Resolution 2254]].<ref name="18 months">{{Cite web |title=Syrian opposition leader calls for 18 month transition period before elections |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=December 8, 2024 |access-date=2025-01-18 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrian-opposition-leader-calls-18-month-transition-period-before-elections-2024-12-08/}}</ref> However, President of Syria [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]] also stated that elections would need at least 4 years to take place.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ebrahim |first1=Nadeen|last2=Salem|first2=Mostafa|date=30 December 2024 |title=Syrian elections could take up to 4 years to organize, de facto leader says |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/30/middleeast/syria-elections-four-years-intl/index.html |access-date=3 January 2025 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref name="4years" />

During a meeting between the French and German foreign ministers and al-Sharaa, the ministers, [[Jean-Noël Barrot|Barrot]] and [[Annalena Baerbock|Baerbock]], specifically cautioned the new Syrian government against unnecessarily delaying elections.<ref name="FrGe">{{Cite web |title=French, German foreign ministers meet Syria's de facto rulers |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/3/french-german-foreign-ministers-visit-damascus-to-meet-syrias-new-rulers |access-date=3 January 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>