Sharaa: Syrian elections could take four Years, calls for respectful Russian exit

The chief of military operations in Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani), said that it might take up to four years to organize elections in Syria and around three years to create a new constitution.

Sharaa emphasized the need of a thorough population census as a precondition for hosting peaceful elections in an interview with Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath. He characterized the present stage as one of restoring the rule of law and underlined the need of drafting a durable constitution.

He disclosed that all elements of Syrian society will be brought together for the next National Dialogue Conference with the goal of promoting unity. Sharaa claims that within a year, significant advancements in public services may be apparent.

Sharaa said, “I do not consider myself to be the liberator of Syria.” “Everyone who made sacrifices contributed to the nation’s liberation.” He gave the Syrian people credit for their own salvation.

He reiterated that residents have the right to peacefully express their opinions via protests, so long as they don’t negatively impact public institutions.

In response to complaints about the choices made by the transitional administration, Sharaa clarified that the present choice was made in order to maintain unity during this crucial time. He made it clear that no political party was intended to be left out.

Sharaa promised that while there have been occasional acts of retaliation, they are less frequent than anticipated considering the severity of the situation. He pledged that all criminals will be held accountable and recognized the rifts left by the previous government.

Additionally, he reaffirmed the intention to disband Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which would be formally declared at the National Dialogue Conference.

Sharaa underlined the need of a respectable departure from Russia that reflects the close connections between Moscow and Damascus. “Russia is the second most powerful country in the world and a key ally for Syria,” he said, reinforcing the two countries’ strategic alliance.