DAMASCUS: Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria’s interim government, revealed that elections in the country could be postponed for up to four years. This statement marks his first public comment on the electoral timeline since his rebel group, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), overthrew Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.
Al-Sharaa explained that the delay is due to the need to prepare necessary infrastructure and draft a new constitution, which could take up to three years. “We are in the process of rebuilding the country from the ground up, not just managing it,” he told Al Arabiya. The ongoing destruction caused by over 50 years of Assad’s rule, he added, makes it essential to ensure that Syria’s future direction does not repeat past mistakes.
Despite the postponement, al-Sharaa emphasized that his interim government, which was previously set to step down by March 2025, will eventually dissolve HTS after completing its transition. The dissolution will be announced at the upcoming National Dialogue Conference, though no date has been confirmed for the event.
In relation to Syria’s relationship with Russia, Al-Sharaa expressed the desire for Moscow to exit Syria in a way that respects their historic ties.
