Syrian Parliamentary Election Could Extend Assad’s Rule

SYRIA-VOTE-POLITICS

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrians voted for members of a new parliament in an election on Monday, an event that is anticipated to yield few surprises but could potentially pave the way for a constitutional amendment extending President Bashar Assad’s term.

This vote marks the fourth parliamentary election in Syria since the eruption of mass anti-government protests in 2011, which were met with a brutal crackdown by security forces, eventually escalating into a civil war. The election takes place as the country grapples with an economic crisis, leading to demonstrations in the south.

Syria’s 2024 parliamentary election excludes rebel-held northwest Syria and the country’s northeast, which is under the control of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The number of eligible voters has not been disclosed. Unlike presidential elections, where voter numbers have swelled since the civil war, Syrians are not eligible to vote for legislators.

Western nations and Assad’s detractors assert that the polls conducted in government-controlled areas of Syria lack both freedom and fairness.

This year, 1,516 government-approved candidates are vying for the 250 seats in the People’s Assembly. A total of 8,151 polling stations were established across 15 voting districts in government-held areas. The announcement of results is expected on Monday night or the following day.

In the previous round of elections held in 2020, the announcement of results was delayed for several days due to technical difficulties, according to officials. Assad’s Baath Party secured 166 seats, along with 17 additional seats from allied parties, while 67 seats were won by independent candidates.

The poll is taking place as the country struggles with a severe economic crisis, stemming from years of conflict, Western-led sanctions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a dwindling supply of aid due to declining donor support.

Meanwhile, the value of the Syrian national currency against the dollar has plummeted to record lows, fueling inflation in food and fuel prices. The government has also raised fuel prices by nearly 50% almost a year ago while simultaneously doubling public sector and pension wages.

Voters shared with The Associated Press that addressing Syria’s ailing economy is a paramount issue.

“We hope that our trust in these new legislators will bring good to the country and improve conditions,” stated Ahmad al-Afoush, 40, after casting his ballot in Damascus.

Shirine al-Khleif expresses hope that the newly elected parliament will take proactive measures to enhance living conditions in Syria.

“I don’t want to say that the predecessors weren’t good. We just want things to improve,” commented the 47-year-old engineer.

In the Druze-majority southern province of Suwayda, where anti-government protests have been occurring regularly for almost a year due to economic hardship, many residents called for a boycott of the polls. Videos disseminated online by Suwayda24, a local activist media collective, and others, captured protesters removing ballot boxes from a truck in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the polling stations.

In other regions, campaigning was subdued, with candidates primarily focusing on general slogans such as national unity and prosperity.

Vladimir Pran, an independent adviser specializing in transitional political and electoral processes, observes that the competitive aspect of the Syrian electoral process transpires prior to the actual voting, when a list of Baath Party candidates is submitted to the party’s central command for approval, allowing them to participate in the election.

“Elections are really already finished… with the end of the primary process,” he asserted. Once the Baath party list is finalized, “you can check the list and the results, and you will see that literally all of them will be in the Parliament.”

This year, the number of incumbent candidates who made the final list was relatively low, hinting at a reshuffling within the Baath party.

Maroun Sfeir, a consultant specializing in transitional electoral and political processes, points out that the 169 candidates nominated solely by the Baath party surpass the necessary margin of 167 MPs required to propose a constitutional amendment, safeguard the president from treason accusations, and exercise veto power over legislation.

Moreover, he highlights that 16 candidates from parties allied with the Baath are also running on the same list. “You’re only three MPs short of three-quarters of the parliament, which is required for (passing) a constitutional amendment.”

While 65 slots remain open for independent candidates, Sfeir emphasizes that they should not be expected to form a genuine opposition bloc.

“They are all pre-vetted … to ensure that they’re all loyal or without any threat,” he explained.

With Assad facing term limits that would conclude his presidency in 2028, the upcoming parliament is widely expected to endeavor to pass a constitutional amendment to extend his term.

—Sewell reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb contributed to this report from Beirut.