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Authorities are holding its first-ever parliamentary elections following the downfall of its longtime ruler, signaling a preliminary move toward political voting that are under scrutiny due to alleged partiality supporting the state's provisional government.

Transitional Parliament Selection

As the battle-scarred state progresses through its political transformation after Assad, local committee members are commencing the significant milestone of choosing a provisional legislative body.

One-third of assembly seats are to be designated by the interim leader in an action viewed as consolidating his power. The other 67% will be chosen via regional electoral bodies, with seats allocated according to population.

Election Mechanism Facts

Direct popular voting has been omitted as interim authorities stated the widespread relocation of residents and documentation loss throughout conflict periods would cause this step unfeasible currently.

"There are multiple pending legislation that must be passed so we can advance with development and growth initiatives. Rebuilding Syria represents a shared responsibility, with every citizen should participate toward this project."

The transitional government abolished the earlier rubber-stamp legislature after assuming power.

Parliament Makeup

The freshly formed 210-representative assembly, named the Popular Assembly, will undertake approving updated election rules and governing charter. Based on administrative groups, exceeding 1,500 aspirants – only 14% women – are competing for seats in the legislature, which will operate having a renewable two-and-half-year mandate while preparing for subsequent polls.

Applicant Conditions

Under established regulations, aspiring representatives should not back the ousted leadership and cannot encourage secession or partition.

Included among candidates is Syrian-American the candidate Hamra, the pioneering Jewish nominee since the 1940s.

Local Poll Suspensions

Voting processes were indefinitely postponed in the predominantly Druze Sweida region plus in zones administered by Kurdish-commanded units due to ongoing tensions among regional officials and national leadership.

Mixed Reactions

Skeptics maintain the electoral college mechanism may favor well-connected individuals, offering the provisional leadership disproportionate influence while sidelining particular racial and religious minorities. But, for some analysts, the election represented a progressive step.

Individual Accounts

When approached by voting authorities to participate in the delegate body, Lina Daaboul, a medical practitioner from Damascus, stated she initially declined, concerned about the duty and poor reputation of former parliaments. Yet after discovering her role would only involve as part of the voting body, she accepted, labeling it "a national obligation".

When polls opened, the doctor stated: "This represents my debut electoral participation ever. I feel pleased, and I'm prepared waiting in extended queues."

Lara Eezouki, an electoral commission member in Damascus, noted that the fresh parliament includes all religious sects and demographic sections and called it "the pioneering instance in the nation's past that voting actually determines – when outcomes aren't predetermined".

Former soldier Halabi, who previously served during the former regime though he abandoned after widespread demonstrations that faced brutal suppression and triggered civil war in 2011, commented: "This represents the first instance during our existence we've taken part in a free voting process lacking foreign interference."