Residents watch a celebration below marking the opening of a new shop in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, Syria, ahead of a parliamentary election. (AP Photo)

Members of Syria’s electoral colleges will gather on Sunday to vote for new lawmakers, a milestone in the country’s shift away from the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad and a major test of inclusivity under its current Islamist-led authorities.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power after his rebel offensive toppled Assad in December, is trying to consolidate his hold over a nation fractured by a 14-year war and bouts of sectarian violence that fueled distrust of him among minorities.

The indirect vote will see a combined 6,000 electors cast ballots at regional electoral colleges starting around 9:00 am local (0600 GMT), with

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