The Future of Political Representation of the Assyrian Component in the Upcoming Phase. Ninos Isho

Written by Mr. Ninos Esho, Head of the General and Executive Community of the Assyrian Democratic Party, under the title:

“The Future of Political Representation of the Assyrian Component in the Upcoming Phase.”

Social and political circles in the province of Hasakah are witnessing a growing state of concern and dissatisfaction regarding the mechanism adopted in forming subcommittees and electoral bodies responsible for selecting members of the upcoming Syrian People’s Assembly. This has resulted in a clear decline in the level of representation of the Assyrian component in all its denominations (Syriacs, Chaldeans, and Eastern Assyrians), as well as the Armenian component, within these bodies.

With the release of the final lists of candidates in various electoral districts of Hasakah province, new indicators have emerged that have increased the level of concern. It has become evident that there are no candidates from these communities in the Qamishli and Malikiya districts, while the Hasakah city district includes only one candidate from our people. At the same time, the number of members of the electoral body from the Assyrian and Armenian components does not exceed five members out of 150 in total. Many believe that these figures make the chances of winning almost impossible, in a society where tribal, sectarian, and ethnic considerations still significantly influence voting outcomes and political representation.

This reality raises serious questions about whether this mechanism was designed in a way that effectively confines the representation of our people to the presidential appointment quota allocated to the interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who holds the authority to appoint one-third of the members of the Syrian People’s Assembly. Hasakah province’s share of this appointed third amounts to five members selected by the interim president, which some view as an attempt to demonstrate presidential commitment to representing national and religious components, while simultaneously lacking real opportunities for these components within the electoral process itself.

According to circulated tables of the electoral bodies, the representation of the Assyrian and Armenian components appears limited compared to their historical, national, and demographic presence in the Jazira region of Syria. In Hasakah city, there are five representatives out of 150 members; in Qamishli, 18 out of 200; and in Malikiya, 23 out of 100. Many consider these figures inconsistent with the social, cultural, and political reality of these communities and their historical role in the region.

There are also increasing concerns that the representation of the Assyrian component in all its denominations, along with the Armenians, may be reduced to only one seat among the future members of the People’s Assembly from Hasakah province, through appointment within the presidential one-third quota. This is despite the fact that this component was represented by three members under the previous regime, despite all the criticism that was directed at the nature of the political and electoral process at that time.

The success of any political process must be based on the principle of genuine national partnership and fair representation of all components, away from any forms of marginalization or exclusion. This is particularly important given that the ethnic and religious diversity characterizing Hasakah province has long been a source of richness and strength for the Syrian national fabric.