It is the first time Ahmed al-Sharaa has commented on an electoral timeline since ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad this month.
Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has stated that holding elections in the war-torn country could potentially span four years.
This marks the first occasion that the new Syrian leader has discussed a potential electoral schedule since opposition fighters, led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad three weeks ago.
Al-Sharaa mentioned to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya on Sunday that devising a new constitution might take up to three years.
He indicated that elections might occur after four years due to the necessity of conducting a new census to determine the number of eligible voters in the country.
“Any significant elections will require the completion of a thorough population census,” he explained.
Al-Sharaa predicted that Syrians could anticipate notable changes in their country within a year. He proposed that HTS – the most influential military and political power in Syria – would be disbanded during a national dialogue conference.
These statements from al-Sharaa coincided with the efforts of the new government in Damascus to reassure neighbouring countries of peace and stability in the multiethnic nation.
“Syria will not pose a threat to anyone,” he assured Al Arabiya.
Al-Sharaa acknowledged that Syria shared strategic interests with Russia, a key ally and military supporter of al-Assad throughout the 13-year Syrian conflict, reiterating the conciliatory gestures of his government. He previously stated that Syria’s relations with Russia should be based on mutual interests.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that the status of Russia’s military installations in Syria would be discussed in negotiations with the new leadership in Damascus.
“It is not only about the maintenance of our bases or strongholds, but also about the conditions of their operation, upkeep, provision, and interactions with the local authorities,” he elaborated in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA released on Sunday.
Al-Sharaa expressed hope that the incoming administration of United States President-elect Donald Trump would lift the sanctions imposed on Syria.
Senior US diplomats who visited Damascus this month reported that al-Sharaa appeared pragmatic, leading Washington to withdraw a $10 million bounty on the HTS leader’s head.
