A Parliamentary Victory in Afrin Raises Questions About Representation Under Assad
Dr. Rankin Abdo’s election to Syria’s People’s Assembly from Afrin represents a paradox of democratic participation in a region scarred by occupation and demographic change.
The Complex Reality of Afrin’s Political Landscape
Afrin, once a predominantly Kurdish canton in northern Syria, has undergone dramatic transformations since Turkish-backed forces seized control in 2018. The region’s participation in Syrian parliamentary elections signals Damascus’s ongoing claim to sovereignty over the area, despite the de facto control exercised by Turkey and allied Syrian opposition groups. This electoral process unfolds against a backdrop of displaced original inhabitants and an influx of Arab settlers from other parts of Syria.
The Syrian government’s ability to conduct elections in Afrin remains highly questionable, given the Turkish military presence and the fundamental changes to the region’s demographic composition. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that hundreds of thousands of Kurdish residents fled during and after the 2018 Turkish operation, with many unable to return to their homes. The celebration of an electoral victory in such circumstances raises profound questions about who is actually being represented and how legitimate any democratic exercise can be under conditions of occupation.
Symbolic Politics Versus Ground Reality
Dr. Abdo’s victory serves multiple symbolic purposes for the Assad government. It projects an image of normalcy and democratic participation in a region that Damascus does not physically control, while also suggesting that Syria’s territorial integrity remains intact despite years of conflict and foreign intervention. For local residents who remain in Afrin—whether original inhabitants or newcomers—participation in Syrian elections may represent a complex calculation involving security, services, and political hedging in an uncertain environment.
The international community largely views Syria’s parliamentary elections as neither free nor fair, with the process designed to legitimize Assad’s rule rather than provide genuine representation. In Afrin’s case, the situation is further complicated by questions about voter registration, access to polling stations, and the ability of displaced persons to participate. The celebration of electoral victories in such contexts often obscures more than it reveals about the actual desires and needs of local populations.
The Broader Implications for Syria’s Future
This electoral event in Afrin exemplifies the broader challenges facing any future political settlement in Syria. Multiple authorities claim legitimacy over the same territories, populations have been forcibly displaced and replaced, and democratic institutions serve more as tools of control than vehicles for representation. The participation of regions like Afrin in Damascus-organized elections, even symbolically, complicates efforts by the international community to push for a comprehensive political solution that addresses the grievances of all Syrian communities.
As Syria’s conflict evolves from active warfare to frozen disputes over territorial control and political legitimacy, events like Dr. Abdo’s election highlight the emerging patterns of governance in contested areas. These arrangements, however imperfect or controversial, may be creating facts on the ground that will shape any eventual resolution to the Syrian crisis.
If parliamentary representation can be celebrated in a region where the government lacks control and much of the original population has been displaced, what does this say about the future of democratic legitimacy in post-conflict Syria?
