Russia's plan to hold early presidential elections in Syria faces opposition

A Russian proposal to end Syria’s conflict that would include early presidential elections is facing opposition from both sides, as deep divisions remain over the fate of Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian MP Sharif Shehadeh, a member of the ruling Baath party, said there will be no presidential vote before Assad’s latest term ends in 2021.

He said parliamentary elections are an internal Syrian affair and that it was still too early to hold them.

His comments came a day after Russia circulated a document on ending Syria’s conflict that calls for drafting a new constitution in up to 18 months.

The charter would be put to a popular referendum and followed by an early presidential election.

Shehadeh said:“Regarding presidential elections there will be no talk about it. The president has a term and when it ends then we can talk about it.”

Assad was elected for a third seven-year term last year. The election was boycotted by the opposition and panned by its Western supporters.

Prominent Syrian opposition figure Haitham al-Maleh said Russia, which began launching airstrikes in support of Assad’s troops on September 30, is an “occupation force” in Syria, adding that the opposition will not accept any role for Assad during the transition.

Speaking from Egypt, al-Maleh said: “We will not accept that the regime stays even for 24 hours. Bashar should be detained and put on trial.”

The Russian document makes no mention of Assad stepping down during the transition, a key opposition demand. It only mentions that “the president of Syria will not chair the constitutional commission”.

Al-Maleh said Russia wants “the current regime to stay”.