BEIRUT (Sputnik) – According to a decree signed by Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday, parliamentary elections will be held on April 13.
"We categorically reject [the parliamentary elections]. We… believe in fundamental changes to lay the foundations for a government in Syria that will not be controlled by only one of the parties [as is currently the case]," Abdel Azim said.
According to the NCC leader, holding elections now would have a negative impact on efforts toward a political settlement of the crisis in Syria, as they are to be run by the current leadership, and not a transitional government.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to Assad fighting against numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.
In October last year, international talks on the settlement of the Syrian crisis started, bringing together representatives from many countries. During the second round of talks in the so-called Vienna format, the negotiators called for elections to be held in Syria within 18 months.
