Hmeymim Group Wants No Changes to Syria Constitution During Transition

Tarek Ahmad, a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) representing Syria’s internal opposition group formed at Hmeymim base said that current Syrian laws concerning political parties, elections or political system could be changed only after the new constitution is voted on in a national referendum.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — The current Syrian constitution should not be changed during the transitional period, but elected national experts from different political groups may start working on a draft of the new one, a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) representing Syria’s internal opposition group formed at Hmeymim base told Sputnik Friday.

On Thursday, Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader Halqi told Sputnik in an interview that after a broad national unity government in the war-torn country is formed, it will begin work on the draft of the new Syrian constitution, which will be presented at a national referendum.

"Geneva I communique and [UN] Security Council resolution state that Syria needs to maintain its existing institutions. The most important institution is a country's constitution. The Syrian constitution should remain unchanged while the elected Syrians experts from different groups are working on a new Syrian constitution," Tarek Ahmad said.

Ahmad added that these experts may amend or completely change current laws concerning political parties, elections or political system, but only after the new constitution is voted on in a national referendum.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad's government fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

The 2012 Geneva communique stipulates that all parties to the Syrian conflict must form a transitional governing body with full executive powers by a mutual consent.