Damascus: Vote counting commenced in Syria on Sunday evening following the closure of polls in the nation's first parliamentary elections since the removal of Bashar al-Assad's regime. 'Votes are being counted after polls closed in all provinces,' stated Nawar Najmeh, a spokesperson for the Higher Committee for the People's Assembly Elections, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

According to Anadolu Agency, the electoral commission extended voting hours in several major cities, including Damascus, before the polls officially closed. Syrian citizens participated in the elections to fill two-thirds of the People's Assembly seats, marking the first such electoral event since Assad's departure last December.

A total of 1,578 candidates vied for 210 seats in the assembly, with women constituting 14% of the candidates. The president directly appoints one-third of the seats, while the remaining seats are filled through elections by designated 'electoral bodies' in each district.

Observers from diplomatic missions and accredited ambassadors were present at the National Library center, ensuring the integrity of the elections. Mohammed Al-Ahmad, head of Syria's Supreme Committee for People's Assembly Elections, expressed pride in the nation's first genuine attempt to select representatives for the People's Assembly.

President Ahmad Al-Sharaa was present at the National Library polling center in Damascus during the voting process to oversee the proceedings. He urged every Syrian to contribute to the nation's rebuilding, expressing optimism that the election would bring capable representatives to address critical issues, pass necessary legislation, and approve the national budget.

Final election results are anticipated to be announced at a press conference on Monday or Tuesday. Since the ousting of Assad in late 2024, Syria's new government has been implementing political and economic reforms, promoting social cohesion, and enhancing cooperation with regional and international partners.

Assad, who led Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia last December, bringing an end to the Ba'ath Party's regime that had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration, led by Sharaa, was established in January.