Syrian Kurds reject parliament appointments

QAMISHLO, Syrian Kurdistan,— Syrian Kurdish political parties and movements on Monday rejected the results of a parliamentary selection process organized by authorities in Damascus in Hasaka on Sunday.

The announcement followed a ballot held a day earlier to choose members of Syria’s national parliament.

Local committees formed by Syria’s electoral commission carried out the process last October to appoint two thirds of a 210 member transitional assembly.

The electoral commission itself was appointed by interim President Ahmed al Sharaa.

The selection process was conducted under a temporary constitution that does not provide for direct elections.

In Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) and the southern province of Sweida, where Druze communities form a majority, were excluded because of tensions with Damascus.

At a press conference in Qamishlo, the main Kurdish city in northeastern Syria, representatives from 21 Kurdish political parties and movements criticized what they described as a centralized appointment system.

The groups included the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, identified as Syria’s strongest Kurdish party.

The representatives said the process reflected exclusion and marginalization through the appointment of selected figures. They stated that the individuals chosen during the process represented only themselves.

The parties and movements said a democratic Syria required an inclusive national political process that ensured fair representation and respected the free will of Syrians.

Before the ballot took place, the same groups said the mechanism failed to create a genuine democratic political system.

Nine representatives were selected on Sunday in Hasaka province, including two who were appointed by proclamation. Two additional representatives were selected in the Kobane area, also known as Ain al Arab, in Aleppo province.

The parliamentary process followed an agreement reached in January between Damascus and Kurdish authorities.

Under the agreement, Kurdish civilian and military institutions operating in northeastern Syria during the civil war would be integrated into the Syrian state.

No selection process was held in Sweida province because of continuing tensions with Damascus after sectarian violence in July last year.

Commenting on the process this month, Druze leader Hikmat al Hijri, who opposes Damascus and oversees armed factions in Sweida, repeated calls for autonomous administration in the province.

He said residents were best suited to manage their affairs and govern the region. Sharaa will appoint the remaining third of the members. Critics described the process as undemocratic.

(With files from AFP)