In an exclusive interview with Saudi state broadcaster Al Arabiya, Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), suggested that the process of holding fresh elections in Syria could extend up to four years. This marks the first instance where he has provided a concrete timeline for potential elections in Syria since HTS successfully ousted former President Bashar al-Assad following a significant rebel offensive.
Sharaa elaborated that drafting a new constitution alone may take about three years and emphasized that citizens might witness meaningful improvements in public services only about a year after the regime's downfall. He underscored the necessity for Syria to reconstruct its legal framework and conduct a complete population census to ensure the legitimacy of future elections.
Having previously held ties to extremist entities such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda, Sharaa noted that HTS has distanced itself from its militant past. He stated that the group is set to be "dissolved" during an imminent national dialogue conference, the success of which will serve as a critical test for Syria’s new leadership amid the challenges of unifying a country fractured by over a decade of civil strife.
Responding to skepticism regarding his administration, Sharaa defended recent appointments as crucial actions intended to be inclusive rather than to marginalize any group. He acknowledged Syria's complex ethnic landscape, comprising various minorities including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia, and the Arab Sunni majority. Sharaa reaffirmed HTS’s commitment to safeguard the rights and freedoms of these minorities.
In the backdrop of ongoing political upheaval, a recent crackdown has seen nearly 300 individuals associated with the Assad regime arrested, including informants and former soldiers. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, these operations were executed with assistance from local communities, reflecting the evolving dynamics in the region as the new authorities seek to consolidate power and establish a functional government.
