UN's special envoy calls for 'free and fair' elections in Syria

United Nation’s special envoy for Syria on Wednesday called for “free and fair” elections in Syria days after President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown following a widespread rebel movement.

Addressing reporters in Damascus, Geir Pedersen said “there is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria”, which he expressed hope would also include a “political solution” in the Kurdish-held northeast.

The envoy added that there is hope to see a “new Syria” which adopts a new constitution in line with Security Council Resolution 2254 and that the elections are held after a transitional period.

Syria is currently being governed by a transitional government under Prime Mohammed al-Bashir who has to oversee the country’s affairs till March 2025.

After rebel forces captured Damascus on December 8 and toppled Assad’s rule, Pedersen expressed his hope the Syrians could rebuild their country and that “the process to end sanctions” imposed under the former government could begin.

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“We need immediate humanitarian assistance, but we also need to make sure that Syria can be rebuilt, that we can see economic recovery,” he said.

Opposition leader calls for 18-month-long transitional period

Meanwhile, the head of Syria’s main opposition, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces has said that the country should have an 18-month transition period to establish “a safe, neutral, and quiet environment” for free elections.

“The constitution will say, are we going to have a parliamentary system, presidential system, or mixed system? And based on this, we do the election and the people choose their leader,” said Al-Bahra.

He added that the opposition had asked state employees to continue to report to work until the power transition, and assured them that they would not be harmed.

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With inputs from agencies