Hadi Al Bahra, president of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, spoke during an interview with Reuters in Istanbul, Turkey, on December 2.
Syria should have an 18-month transition period to establish 'a safe, neutral, and quiet environment' for free elections, according to Hadi Al-Bahra, the head of Syria's main opposition abroad, who spoke to Reuters on the sidelines of the Doha Forum on Sunday.
In a significant event for the Middle East, Syrian rebels took control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war, thus ending his family's long-standing rule. This rapid offensive raised concerns in Arab capitals and sparked fears of a new wave of regional instability, as well as questions about whether the rebels can ensure a smooth transition.
Al-Bahra, President of the Syrian National Coalition, stated that Syria should draft a constitution within six months, with the first election being a referendum on this document. 'The constitution will determine whether we will have a parliamentary system, presidential system, or mixed system. Based on this, we conduct the election and the people choose their leader,' said Al-Bahra.
He also mentioned that the opposition had requested state employees to continue reporting to work until the power transition, assuring them that they would not be harmed. Assad's sudden downfall followed a shift in the balance of power in the Middle East, particularly after many leaders of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group, a crucial component of Assad's battlefield force, were killed by Israel over the past two months. Russia, another key ally of Assad, has been preoccupied with the war in Ukraine.
'It was like a domino effect. It was clear that (Assad) decided to leave. I felt relief, but also a little sad. He should be held accountable for all the crimes he committed,' Al-Bahra said.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
