Leader defines principles of new Future Syria Party
In an interview with Al-Monitor, the leader of the newly established Future Syria Party, Ibrahim al-Qaftan, rejected claims that the group seeks to counter Turkish pressure in northern Syria, stressing that its goal is to build a pluralistic and democratic state.
The Future Syria Party (FSP) was recently established in northern Syria to represent all components of Syrian society. The party, which is led by an Arab, was formed as Turkey is increasing its pressure in northern Syria against the Kurdish nationalist Democratic Union Party (PYD). Ankara accuses the PYD of being affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. There are also rumors that the party was created at the request of the United States.
Party members met March 27 to officially launch the FSP in Raqqa, which is under the control of the PYD and its armed wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG). At the meeting, members representing Arab, Kurdish and Assyrian groups and movements as well as representatives from the provinces of Homs, Daraa, Aleppo and Damascus chose the party's leader, Ibrahim al-Qaftan. They also elected an 81-member general council and formed a seven-member board called the Office of the Conference.
