Syria’s De Facto Ruler Says It Will Take Four Years To Hold Elections – The Cradle
Syria’s De Facto Ruler Says It Will Take Four Years To Hold Elections
Ahmed al-Sharaa said it will take three years to write a new constitution
Syria’s de facto ruler, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani), stated on 29 December that organizing elections and writing a constitution for the country may take years.
Following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s government on 8 December, Sharaa announced the establishment of a caretaker government that would last for three months.
In an interview with Al-Arabiya on Sunday, Sharaa stated, “The process of writing the constitution may take about three years, and we look forward to a constitution that lasts for the longest possible period, and this is a difficult and lengthy task.”
“Organizing elections may take four years; any valid elections will require a comprehensive population census,” Sharaa told the Saudi news channel.
Sharaa has appointed several fellow HTS members as ministers in the caretaker government, including ministers of defense, justice, and intelligence.
Many held posts in the Salvation Government, which Sharaa established to rule Idlib after HTS conquered the governorate in northwest Syria with CIA assistance in 2015.
Sharaa stated that the appointment of the new ministers and other state officials was part of a necessary stage that is “preparatory to a longer interim government.”
A delay in holding elections may allow Sharaa to consolidate control of Syria and assist him and his supporters in remaining in power for a long time...
Sharaa also announced that HTS, the former Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, would be dissolved at the upcoming National Dialogue Conference.
The HTS leader stated that neighboring Saudi Arabia will play a large role in Syria’s future.
“I am proud of everything Saudi Arabia has done for Syria, and Saudi Arabia has major investment opportunities in Syria,” Sharaa said.
“Liberating Syria guarantees the security of the region and the Gulf for the next 50 years,” he added.
Sheraa also explained that his government is in talks with the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to resolve the crisis in northeastern Syria and to include them in the government’s armed forces.
The SDF is currently battling a Turkish-backed faction, the Syrian National Army (SNA), in areas of northern Syria, including Manbij and the Tishreen Dam. Alongside occupying US forces, the SDF controls Syria’s major oil fields.
🔗SOURCE ➡️ The Cradle
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12/20 – American Diplomat To Meet With Al-Qaeda Affiliated Al-Julani
12/12 – Qatar To Reopen Embassy In Syria, Looking To ‘Strengthen Ties’ With HTS-Led Regime
12/7 – Why are Gulf-funded media outlets burning the credibility gained covering Gaza to whitewash a former ISIS and Al-Qaeda warlord?
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This article originally appeared on The Cradle
