Rojava considers delaying local elections indefinitely: Source

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Northeast Syria (Rojava) authorities are discussing an indefinite delay of local elections amid Turkey’s military threats, if Kurds go ahead with the vote, an informed source revealed on Tuesday. 

“Yesterday, we discussed the matter with the autonomous administration. We believe that these elections should not be held at this time. There is no need to set any date for the elections at all,” the leader of one of the Kurdish parties who took part in the meeting with the Rojava authorities, told Rudaw English on Tuesday, on the condition of anonymity. 

“Rojava is experiencing a very sensitive situation. We should delay the elections to a suitable time so that we can have a successful process,” the source continued.

The politician added that he told the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) officials and the electoral body that now is not suitable for local elections. 

Sinam Mohamad, the ruling Syrian Democratic Council’s (SDC) representative to the US, told Rudaw English on Tuesday that some political parties “have requested the postponement [of the elections]. However, no decisions have been made so far.” 

The SDC is the political arm of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto army of Rojava.

The polls were initially set for June 11. They were delayed to August after Turkish opposition and threats to carry out a military offensive against the Kurdish enclave, if they did not delay the vote. 

The United States has also called on Rojava authorities not to proceed with the vote, citing a lack of fair and free conditions. 

DAANES said in June that the postponement was a response to the demands of the political parties participating in the elections and “to implement the polls in a democratic manner.” 

“I believe that the elections will not be held in August and will be postponed to a suitable date,” noted the source, stating that the authorities shared their stance that the polls should be delayed indefinitely. “Hence, I believe the elections will be postponed indefinitely.” 

A top Rojava official on Tuesday confirmed to Rudaw English on the condition of anonymity, due to the sensitivity of the subject, that there was a meeting between DAANES and participating parties regarding the future of the elections, adding that no date has been set for the polls yet. 

According to the municipal elections law, the political parties should be given 20 days to campaign for the polls. Therefore, the elections are not possible in August - unless the authorities make an exception and breach the law - and have been effectively delayed again. 

People’s and Women’s Alliance for Freedom, which includes the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Together for Better Services alliance and four other political parties are racing for municipal seats. 

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), an umbrella group of main opposition parties in Rojava, are boycotting the elections. The ENKS, which is a member of the Turkey-backed Syrian opposition, does not recognize the Kurdish administration. 

Sulaimani Oso, ENKS leader, told Rudaw English in late May that elections will not be fair because the PYD is militarily powerful and claimed that thousands of security force members will be forced to vote for the ruling party’s candidates.

PYD is the political army of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) - backbone of the SDF.