FRAGILE TRANSITION

The upcoming parliamentary elections in Syria mark an extraordinary moment ina nation that has known only one political dynasty for more than half a century.

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For decades, the Assad family converted the trappings of democracy into empty ritual, orchestrating carefully managed contests where the ruling Baath Party never failed to dominate. The fall of Bashar alAssad in December ended that iron grip and opened a window, however narrow, for political transition. Yet, what unfolds this Sunday is less a triumph of democracy than a controlled experiment in political reconstruction. With twothirds of parliamentary seats decided by electoral colleges rather than a direct vote, and the remaining third appointed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the elections bear the hallmarks of a process designed more for stability and order than for genuine popular sovereignty. The interim authorities argue that the country is simply not in a position to conduct a popular vote, given the immense displacements of people, loss of personal documentation, and fractured geography after nearly 14 years of civil war. While that reasoning has pragmatic merit, it underscores the depth of Syria's crisis: the collapse of state institutions, mass displacement of millions, and the continuing disputes between Damascus and local authorities in Kurdish-controlled areas and in Sweida, which will not take part in these polls.