RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah-The High Election Commission of North and East Syria announced in a statement on May 11 that the municipal elections scheduled to be held on May 30 were postponed to June 11. “Our main goal is to implement transparency and democracy in the election process. Time is an important and fundamental condition for achieving this goal. The elections were scheduled to be held on 30 May, but during the course of our work, it was seen that the time set for the preparations for municipal elections in North and East Syria was not sufficient. Therefore, due to the importance of the elections, we decided to hold the elections on June 11, 2024 in accordance with the Law on Municipal Elections approved by the Democratic Peoples' Assembly of North and East Syria,” the statement said.

‘We are determined to meet the people's demands’

In an interview with NuJINHA, Ebila Xelîl, a member of the High Election Commission of North and East Syria, evaluated the importance of municipal elections and the reasons for postponement. “More time is needed for the preparations for the municipal elections amid the ongoing Turkish attacks on the region,” said Ebila Xelîl.

The High Election Commission of North and East Syria consists of 20 members representing seven cantons in North and East Syria. These members are representatives of the people's assemblies and the assemblies of the Supreme Court. “The elections have been postponed to put the Social Contract in force,” Ebila Xelîl added.

“The Social Contract was drafted according to the demands of our people to solve the problems in the region. The contract was drafted after making great efforts for two years. The High Election Commission was established in accordance with Article 118 of the Social Contract. The contract has articles stating that co-mayors must be elected by local people, and Municipal Councils must be established. We do our best to put this contract into force. The people also demand this. We are determined to meet the people’s demands.”

‘The democratic elections will be held’

Emphasizing gender equality in the elections, Ebila Xelîl said, “We have a co-presidency system. The Social Contract guarantees the effective realization of equality of women in all facets of life. The electoral gender quota requires that 50% of the candidates on the electoral lists are women. The electoral lists have been prepared by political parties. Then, these electoral lists will be submitted to the High Election Commission. The electoral lists will be shared with the people. The democratic municipal elections will be held on June 11. As the High Election Commission, we call on everyone, women's organizations and institutions, and political parties to cast their votes in the elections to express their will.”