In brief
After taking down Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership is focused on building a stable governance framework, including drafting a new constitution and ensuring accurate population data.
In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, Ahmed al-Shara, Syria's new leader following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, suggested a timeline of up to four years for holding elections. Al-Shara, who led the successful rebel offensive against Assad's government, stated that establishing an electoral process will take time due to the need for careful preparations after years of dictatorship. He emphasized the importance of drafting a new constitution, estimating this task could take two to three years. “It should not be fast food,” he remarked, indicating that the process needs thorough attention. Al-Shara also pointed out the necessity of conducting a comprehensive population census to ensure valid elections, which further adds to the time needed for electoral reforms.Since toppling Assad on December 8, the rebel forces, under al-Shara's leadership, have been forming an interim government and trying to stabilize their authority in Damascus. They appointed a caretaker prime minister to manage the transitional phase until March 2025, promising the creation of a legal committee to address constitutional matters. In a notable shift, al-Shara has swapped military attire for business suits and abandoned his guerrilla name, portraying himself more as a statesman. He also aims to present a moderate political outlook while seeking to reassure the nation's diverse minority populations. Nevertheless, some analysts speculate that his approach might be a strategic move to remove his faction from U.S. terrorist lists and to gain the trust of international allies wary of his past. The Biden administration is observing how the new government includes minority voices and meets humanitarian needs.Al-Shara reiterated his priority to heal the socio-political rift caused by decades of Assad's regime, declaring this moment a rare "historical turning point" for Syria's future.
