Salih Muslim, co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), has voiced a strong commitment to conducting local elections in North and East Syria despite ongoing Turkish military aggression. Speaking to Firat News (ANF) on Saturday, Muslim stated, “Turkey is exhibiting extreme intolerance towards the elections, but the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria will certainly carry them out.”
The region is set to hold local government elections on 11 June, a move that has been met with increased threats and attacks from Turkey, which Muslim interprets as an attempt to undermine the electoral process. “We are closely observing Turkey’s aggressive actions as they try to sabotage the elections,” Muslim explained.
“This will be a democratic election where the people themselves will select their representatives. There are no appointments; these elections are based on democratic principles,” Muslim stated. He emphasised the significance of the elections in strengthening public services and community participation, despite challenges and previous disruptions.
The US Department of State spokesperson, Vedant Patel, had said that the US does not believe there are suitable conditions in place for elections to be held in North and East Syria, at a press conference on Thursday. Patel cited UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which was adopted on 18 December 2015 and outlines a plan for a political resolution to the Syrian conflict.
Drawing attention to these statements, Salih Muslim said: “In the statement, it is stated that such opportunities do not exist in North and East Syria, according to UN Resolution 2254… Why did they make such a statement? Such a statement was made because it was on the agenda of the Turkish state … For days, Turkey has been trying to make everyone buy the narrative that the US is behind the elections. They may have made such a statement after Turkey’s reactions. It is a diplomatic statement and is intended not to provoke Turkey. North and East Syria are holding elections according to their own conditions.” He added, “Such an election is taking place without anyone’s support or consultation.”
Also on Thursday, Turkish President Erdoğan called the upcoming elections in North and East Syria a “threat” to Turkish national security, labelling the region as “Terroristan”. Despite Erdoğan’s claims, local parties affirmed their commitment to Syrian unity and condemned Turkey’s interventions.
Remaining defiant against outside influence, Muslim said “The Turkish state will do its best to prevent the elections from taking place… Our people will go to the polls without stepping back and elect their representatives with their will.”
