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De facto Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that holding the country's first elections after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime could take up to four years.
In his first comment on a possible timetable for the main stages of the country's political transformation. Sharia “Any valid election will require a comprehensive population census,” he said.
Al-Sharaa, who previously used the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Julani, said in an interview with Saudi stations Al Arabiya and Al Hadath on Sunday that drafting a new constitution could also take up to three years.
A longer-than-expected transition period will alarm Western powers, who are urging Shara to form an inclusive administration. They are considering lifting sanctions on the Syrian state and designating Sharaa and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist movement that led the rebel blitz to oust Assad, as terrorists.
Earlier this month, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham appointed Muhammad al-Bashir as interim prime minister of Syria.
Al-Bashir, who led the civil administration in Idlib, the northwestern region that had been under HTS control for years, announced at the time that his government, largely made up of HTS members who had roles in the previous Idlib administration, would assume its duties. Forming a caretaker government Until March next year.
Al-Sharaa also touched on the dominant role of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in the transitional government, telling the media that “the current form of appointments was one of the necessities of the stage,” and that “the quota system during this period would have destroyed the transitional work.”
Hadi Al-Bahra, head of the Syrian National Coalition, an umbrella group that includes Assad's most prominent opponents Civil war in Syria He called for all opposition parties to be included in the transitional government.
As he put it 18-month timeline To undertake a political transition, including a six-month period to draft a new constitution.
Al-Shara also confirmed that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and other armed factions would do so She came under the authority of the new stateAlthough it is not certain whether the numerous Syrian factions will accept his initiative.
The dissolution of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham will be announced at a national dialogue conference that includes prominent opposition figures, ethnic and religious leaders, and some Assad regime officials who did not have military or security roles.
Organizers told Al Jazeera that the conference, whose date has not yet been announced, is also expected to announce the dissolution of the previous parliament and the abolition of the previous constitution, in addition to the formation of an advisory council.
One of the most important factions that remains outside Sharaa's sphere of influence is the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which control much of the country's northeast.
Al-Sharaa said on Sunday that the administration led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham is negotiating with the Syrian Democratic Forces about the future status of the region.
