Mon Feb 03 20:36:23 UTC 2025: ## Syria’s Transitional President Sets Four-to-Five Year Timeline for Elections
**DAMASCUS, Syria –** Syria’s newly appointed transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced Monday that presidential elections are unlikely to take place for four to five years. This is the first time Sharaa, leader of the rebel group that ousted President Bashar al-Assad in early December and appointed transitional president on January 30th, has publicly offered a timeframe for the vote.
Sharaa cited the need for extensive infrastructural rebuilding and the updating of electoral data as key reasons for the delay. He emphasized the importance of accurate population data to ensure the legitimacy of any future election. He stated that Syria’s transition would adhere to international norms regarding transitional periods, ultimately leading to an elected presidency and governing authority, though he did not specify which norms informed his timeline.
In addition to elections, Sharaa outlined plans for a national conference to build an inclusive government. A preparatory committee will consult across Syria before inviting representatives to discuss the nation’s problems and draft a constitutional declaration. This process, along with the previously estimated three-year timeframe for drafting a new constitution, contributes to the overall four-to-five year election timeline. The existing Syrian constitution has been suspended during this transitional period.
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