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.
While some have argued the FSP is merely the PYD's attempt to address the Turkish pressure in northern Syria, particularly in Afrin, others believe it was founded because the United States hopes to unite divergent elements to block Turkey from manipulating the region. Still others believe the new party was founded to do just what it claims: represent the different Syrian components and entire political spectrum.
The party is seeking public support by explaining its goals, principles and vision on the conflict in Syria. Since it was founded, the FSP has been holding meetings with the public, starting with citizens of the Democratic Federal System of Northern Syria. The FSP also held meetings with intellectual figures in Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, Qamishli, Raqqa, al-Tabaqa and the Euphrates Basin region. The party has established branches in the Jazira region of Rojava, Afrin, al-Shahba and Aleppo. It is promoting itself as a party that opposes the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and aspires to democracy, decentralized government, plurality and coexistence.
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