Assad's Party Poised to Retain Power in Syrian Parliamentary Vote

Syrians voted for a new parliament in an election expected to pave the way for a constitutional amendment to extend President Bashar Assad's rule. The vote, held amid an economic crisis and ongoing civil war, excluded rebel-held areas and diaspora Syrians. Critics argue the election is neither free nor fair, with Assad's Baath Party likely to dominate the results, potentially enabling a constitutional change to prolong Assad's presidency beyond 2028.