Member of the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) political committee, Yasser Al-Farhan, stressed the SOC’s rejection of any elections involving Bashar al-Assad or anyone involved in crimes against humanity.
Al-Farhan said that the SOC will not give any legitimacy to future elections in Syria before a safe, neutral environment is created, adding that this necessitates achieving a political transition through the formation of a Transitional Governing Body (TGB) in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Security Council resolutions 2118 and 2254, and in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution 262 / 67 which states that a TGB will have the powers of the government and the presidency.
Al-Farhan stated that the first article of the decision to form the National Commission for Elections stipulates that the Commission will carry out its work after the establishment of a safe, neutral environment and under the supervision of the United Nations and in accordance with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
For the time being, the Commission will discuss the most appropriate electoral system for the post-Assad Syria; gather voter registers; raise awareness about elections; and develop standards and guidelines for democratic elections, he added.
Al-Farhan also said that the formation of the Commission is one of many steps the SOC is taking to prepare for the future Syria away from Bashar al-Assad. He pointed out that there are about five million Syrians who form a decisive bloc, adding that it is the duty of the SOC to support their participation in choosing their representatives, just as it must support their participation in choosing their constitution.
Al-Farhan pointed out that this process is a prelude to overseeing the elections of local council, unions, groupings and parties, opposition bodies and the SOC. “We need an exercise in which we go through the democratic experience.” (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
