Syria's transitional authorities launched the country's first parliamentary election on Sunday after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The election is considered a key step in the country's transitional period, but some observers have raised concerns over the inclusivity and feasibility of the country's new democracy.
Around 6,000 members of the electoral colleges voted to select 140 parliamentarians in the indirect elections, held across 50 districts nationwide.
Sunday's vote determined two-thirds of the 210-seat parliament, while the remaining third will be appointed later by interim leader Ahmad Al Shraa, completing the formal establishment of the legislature.
"The main mission for us is to rebuild our country and rebuild its institutions and houses. We are going through one of the biggest humanitarian, economic, and social crises in this region, so our program must focus on rebuilding and rehabilitation," said Syrian parliamentary candidate Akram Kassouah.
The absence of a popular vote has drawn criticism, with many calling the process exclusive.
However, interim authorities explained that this system was necessary due to the lack of reliable population data and the displacement of millions of Syrians caused by the war.
"The indirect voting system may not represent the entire spectrum of Syrian society, but it satisfies an acceptable portion of the Syrian people. Regulations are usually formed in accordance with the needs of the people. We resorted to this system because we can't go for direct votes with the absence of a civil registry, and also many people are still missing, displaced, or living in makeshift shelters," said Lara Aizouqi, a member of the higher election committee.
The elections in three provinces in southern and northeastern Syria were indefinitely postponed due to tension between the locals in those provinces and the interim authorities.
This exclusion has also sparked concerns about the level of representation in the newly formed parliament.
"The Syrian government is trying to satisfy the international community, which is demanding a transitional period, but the transitional period needs different conditions to be implemented. The government is taking the parliament and the elections into consideration, but due to the lack of a social contract, this process will make the Syrian issue even more complicated," said political expert Mazen Bilal.
The Syrian parliamentary elections come at a crucial time for the Syrian interim government as it pursues legitimacy in the wake of clashes and tensions with the Syrian ethnic and religious minorities, and also as humanitarian and financial needs are growing as thousands of Syrians return home.
Syria holds first parliamentary elections amid concerns over inclusivity, legitimacy
