On Sunday, “electoral silence” began in areas controlled by the Syrian regime in preparation for the start of the voting process tomorrow, Monday, to choose “representatives” for the Syrians within the so-called People’s Assembly. These elections resemble a theatrical play as they violate all election laws in both form and substance. Their legitimacy is fundamentally compromised, primarily because they contravene Security Council Resolution 2254, which regulates the political process and stipulates that elections should be held after the establishment of a transitional governing body and a new constitution for the country. Additionally, they exclude more than half of the Syrians eligible to vote. These elections are the fourth held by the regime since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. The first took place in 2012 after a constitutional amendment that formally allowed party pluralism. The second occurred in 2016, following an amendment to the electoral law that permitted the military and Internal Security Forces to participate. The third elections in 2022 saw a turnout of less than 10% of eligible voters.
The regime is attempting to portray elections to its audience as part of an imagined victory narrative. Candidates are trying to depict themselves as saviours of the country from its numerous crises. Some promise to eliminate unemployment, others to develop the industrial sector, and still others to improve all services. Candidates’ gatherings, featuring dabke parties, aim to complete a surreal scene the regime calls a national celebration. However, the people see that those chosen as their representatives, whether through party consultation sessions or security branch nominations, are either leaders or financiers of militias and members of the shabiha preying on them and their property, war profiteers, or economic and commercial fronts for the regime. Additionally, the Council is filled with loyal tribal figures, promoted as tribal leaders, all granted membership in the People’s Assembly as rewards for their services to the regime.
After issuing the 2012 Constitution, which formally abolished Article 8 of the Constitution that declared the Baath Party the leader of state and society, nothing practically changed in the electoral process for the People’s Assembly except for an increase in the Baath Party’s representation. In the 2007 elections, Baathists represented 135 out of 250 members of the Council. This number increased to 166 members in the last elections, and the percentage of other parties under the Front List name remained unchanged, despite the constitutional approval of party pluralism, which should have increased the representation of other parties. The 2016 amendment to enable military and security forces to vote was due to weak electoral turnout, aiming to boost voting rates through controlled votes. This election mechanism, along with the corruption and violations in its implementation, makes tomorrow’s elections merely another of the regime’s games, which it continues to pass off to the international community to evade political obligations and the application of international legitimacy laws related to Syria, particularly Security Council Resolution 2254.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
