Syria's electoral college members are gathering today to vote for new lawmakers - an election seen as a milestone in the country's move away from the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad and a key test of inclusiveness under the current Islamist-led authorities, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power after his rebel offensive toppled Assad in December last year, is trying to tighten his grip on a country torn apart by 14 years of war and outbreaks of sectarian violence that have fueled distrust of him among minorities.
A total of 6,000 electoral college members will participate in the indirect elections, casting ballots in regional electoral colleges. Voting begins at 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) and will continue until around 17:00.
A commission appointed by Sharaa approved 1,570 candidates, who presented their platforms at seminars and debates this week.
There was little visible public campaigning, however, with no posters or billboards visible in major cities, Reuters reporters said.
Today's vote will determine the composition of two-thirds of the 210-seat parliament, and results are expected later tonight. However, the new composition of parliament will only be officially determined after Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda fighter, selects the remaining third of the deputies.
The authorities say they resorted to this system, rather than general elections, due to the lack of reliable population data after the displacement of millions of Syrians by the war. Citing security and political concerns, they postponed the vote in three provinces controlled by minority groups, leaving 19 seats in parliament unfilled.
Critics have criticized these moves, saying the partial and indirect voting is unrepresentative and administered in a too centralized manner.
Analysts say that electing 70 MPs from Sharjah will ultimately determine the effectiveness and legitimacy of the new body: electing women or minority MPs could add diversity, but loyalists could help it pass laws without legislative challenge.