Despite vehement opposition from neighboring Turkey and the Syrian regime in Damascus, a Rojava official declared on Wednesday that the upcoming municipal elections are a "legitimate right" of the people and must proceed as planned.

The elections, scheduled for August, have drawn significant criticism from Turkey, which has threatened further military action against Kurdish forces if the vote is held. The United States has also urged Rojava authorities to halt the elections, citing concerns over the lack of fair and free conditions.

Initially set for June 11, the elections were postponed by the Kurdish-led administration in Rojava last Thursday. The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) cited requests from political parties for more time to campaign and the need to allow international organizations to monitor the process as reasons for the delay.

"The elections are a legitimate right of the people of Rojava and other areas under the control of the [Kurdish-led] Autonomous Administration," stated Salih Gado, secretary-general of the Kurdish Democratic Left Party in Syria. He criticized Turkey and the Syrian regime's opposition to the elections, labeling it as oppression against the region's people.

The postponement aims to ensure a democratic process, according to a DAANES statement. However, the move has not assuaged all critics. Adnan Bozan, from the Kurdistan Union Party, which is boycotting the elections, argued that the elections lack political legitimacy and fair conditions, accusing the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD) of monopolizing power and sidelining other political entities.

The PYD, represented by Mahmoud Mohammed, defended the elections, highlighting the importance of municipal councils in serving the people without external interference. He expressed concern that recent statements from the U.S. give Turkey a "green light" to resume military aggression against Rojava.

Turkey views the PYD as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization by Ankara, and has pledged to prevent the establishment of a "terror state" near its borders. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated Turkey's stance against what he termed the aggressive actions of Kurdish forces under the pretext of elections.

The U.S. State Department has publicly urged Kurdish authorities to refrain from holding the vote, citing unfavorable conditions in northeast Syria. This stance has added complexity to an already fraught political landscape.

In total, 27 parties and 5,336 candidates are participating in the elections, with nearly 2,000 polling stations set up across Rojava and other regions under Autonomous Administration control, including Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces. About three million people are eligible to vote.

As the electoral commission and Rojava’s Kurdish-led administration convene to determine the election's future, the legitimacy and outcome of these elections remain uncertain amidst regional and international tensions.