Next Syrian presidential election

Next Syrian presidential election

←  2021 Until 2030

Incumbent President Ahmed al-Sharaa Independent

A presidential election in Syria is planned to take place within five years of the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. ^[1] Until then, Syria will be governed by a transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. ^[2]

Background

In May 2021, Ba'athist Syria under Bashar al-Assad conducted its final presidential election, which he won by a landslide with over 95% of the popular vote. ^[3] The election was widely dismissed internationally as an illegitimate sham election marked by substantial electoral fraud. ^[4] Assad ultimately did not complete his term, after his government collapsed on 8 December 2024 following renewed Syrian opposition offensives led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham amid the Syrian civil war. ^{[5] [6]}

In March 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa ratified an interim constitution for the transitional period, establishing Syria as a presidential republic without a prime minister and setting a five-year transition period. ^[7]

Date of the election

Shortly after the fall of the Assad regime, Hadi al-Bahra, president of the Syrian National Coalition, said that an 18-month transitional period was needed to establish "a safe, neutral, and quiet environment" for free elections, as outlined in the UNSC Resolution 2254. ^[8] However, the newly declared president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, stated that elections would need at least four to five years to take place, citing the need to first re-establish the infrastructure for elections by holding a comprehensive population census and drafting a constitution, which he estimated "may take two or three years." ^{[1] [9] [10]}

In a meeting with al-Sharaa, French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot and German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock urged Syria's new leadership to avoid undue delays in holding elections. ^[11]

References

1. "Syria's Sharaa says it will take 4-5 years to hold presidential election". Reuters. 3 February 2025.
2. "Syrian leader signs constitution that puts the country under an Islamist group's rule for 5 years". CNN. Associated Press. 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
3. "Assad wins Syrian election dismissed as farce by critics". BBC News. May 27, 2021. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
4. "Syrian Election Shows The Extent Of Assad's Power". NPR.org. 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-05-28. The election result is a foregone conclusion, and does little to build relations with Western governments. But it is a useful tool for the Syrian regime to project legitimacy with governments in the region.
5. Picheta, Rob; Regan, Helen (December 9, 2024). "After decades of brutal rule, Bashar al-Assad's regime has been toppled". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
6. "Bashar al-Assad: Sudden downfall ends decades of family's iron rule". BBC News. December 9, 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
7. "Syria's Constitutional Draft Set for Release as Fact-Finding Committee Begins Investigations". Watan News. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
8. "Syrian opposition leader calls for 18 month transition period before elections". Reuters. December 8, 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
9. "Syria's Rebel Leader Offers Hint of Timetable for Potential Elections". The New York Times . December 30, 2024.
10. Ebrahim, Nadeen; Salem, Mostafa (30 December 2024). "Syrian elections could take up to 4 years to organize, de facto leader says". CNN. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
11. "French, German foreign ministers meet Syria's de facto rulers". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-01-03.