Parliamentary elections took place Sunday, May 24, in northern Syria across the Qamishli, Hasakah and Kobani districts to elect members of the Syrian People’s Assembly after previous delays tied to security concerns.
The elections follow a January agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate civilian, military and security institutions in northeastern Syria into state structures. The move marks a significant step in Syria’s ongoing political transition.
Turnout and Preliminary Results
Voting took place in the Hasakah and Qamishli districts in Hasakah province, along with the majority-Kurdish Ain al-Arab (Kobani) district in the Aleppo countryside, to elect nine assembly members. In Malikiyah, two seats were decided by acclamation after only two candidates registered.
Preliminary turnout figures showed strong participation across the three districts. In Qamishli, 168 of 198 electoral body members voted, with seven candidates competing for four seats. In Hasakah, 138 of 150 members participated, while 13 candidates contested three seats. In Kobani, 100 electors voted, with 12 candidates running for two seats. The Supreme Committee for Elections of the People’s Assembly announced the preliminary results after voting and ballot counting concluded.
Nawar Najma, spokesperson for Syria’s Higher Elections Committee, said the electoral process succeeded and turnout exceeded 95% across all participating areas. Najma also described the atmosphere as positive among citizens and members of the electoral bodies. He said the appeals period will remain open for 48 hours following the announcement of the preliminary results, after which the final results will be released.
Once President Ahmad al-Sharaa appoints the remaining one-third of assembly members, the new People’s Assembly will be able to convene for its first legislative session. While the elections moved forward in northeastern Syria, Suwayda remains outside the process due to ongoing instability and occupation by foreign-backed militias.
Expanding State Institutions in the Northeast
Ahmad al-Hilali, spokesperson for the presidential team overseeing implementation of the agreement with the SDF, said completing the parliamentary elections in Hasakah demonstrates that achieving legitimate rights and strengthening citizenship and partnership must occur through legal channels and state institutions.
In a Facebook post, Hilali said the completion of the process represents a strategic step toward national integration and toward restoring normalized ties between the Jazeera region and Damascus. He added that the elections support the return of official and constitutional institutions to the province.
The parliamentary elections in Hasakah represent an important development in Syria’s broader political transition. The process expands institutional integration in the northeast while increasing political participation in areas previously outside direct state administration. The elections also lay groundwork for further coordination between local authorities and Damascus as Syria continues efforts to rebuild national institutions.
