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Preparation for parliamentarian elections underway in Syria

02 May 2012 21:12 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Amid serious life-threatening situation, preparations for the forthcoming parliamentarian elections are in full swing and most runners have shown unwavering resolve to go on with promises to confront what they regard as foreign conspiracy targeting the country, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Preparations have been on foot over the past two weeks and runners have shown feverish attempts to woo voters by bringing up the most controversial issues on the Syrian streets and making pledges to meet the Syrians’ aspirations for a brighter Syria after more than 13 moths of unrest the government blames on armed groups and foreign conspiracy.

Some 7,195 candidates, including 710 women, would run for the 1st legislative chapter of the 250-seat parliament.

Voting will start on May 7, and the electoral campaigns should come to an end 48 hours ahead of the voting.

Khalaf al-Azawi, head of the higher committee for elections, told Syrian newspapers recently that the elections would be supervised by a judicial committee, in a major turnabout of the previous term that was monitored by governors only.

Streets have already been strewn with banners and posters of the candidates who have posted slogans under their photos revealing parts of their electoral programs.

Courtesy pavilions on main Damascus streets have been erected to receive supporters and brief them on the candidate’s program, a ritual that has been espoused by candidates over the past years.

Previous aspects of over-spending and lavishness have, to some extent, disappeared from the streets following the Syrian government’s decision banning runners from spending more than 3 million Syrian pounds (about 50,000 US dollars) on their electoral campaigns.

Candidates have instead strived to entice voters through unleashing brilliant slogans, starting from promises of booming economy to creating jobs and ensuring houses for all youths.

There are some 14.8 million eligible voters out of Syria’s 23 million population.

There were ten parties in Syria that used to run for parliamentarian elections under the umbrella of the National Progressive Front headed by the Baath party, which had gained the vast bulk of the parliament’s seats in the previous term. The NPF used to enroll its list and voters have a sole choice to add the names of other independent candidates.

However, 11 new parties that have been licensed under the newly- ratified multi-party law would participate in the imminent elections.

Those newly-elected parties have promoted for their electoral programs in the three state-own newspapers with promises to update old-timed laws, protect the environment, smash out unemployment and develop the country’s sluggish economy in a country that has been in disarray since the eruption of unrest in March 2011.

The Popular Will Party has vowed, in a giant advertisement published in a local newspaper, to work to bolster national unity "to face all foreign conspiracies the country is currently subject to."

Yet, it’s still unclear whether the same momentum will continue over the next few days preceding the date of voting, as some candidates have started feeling the heat of threats made by armed opposition figures.

Some worrying signals have already surfaced.

A major candidate, who has a widespread popularity among pro- government Syrians and who has been an outspoken proponent of the government, has, to the surprise of many Syrians, withdrew his candidacy on Wednesday apparently after receiving threats.

Taleb Ibrahim announced his decision on pro-government TV channels, without giving any logical reason.

However, sources close to him said gunmen have been tracking him down and gunshots were heard overnight near his house.

Another candidate was assassinated Tuesday by gunmen in the southern province of Daraa, Syria’s official news agency SANA said, adding that the candidate for the National Unity list, Abdul-Hamid Hassan al-Taha, was gunned down at Basra square in the city, killing him instantly.

Another candidate, Mohammad Ismail al-Ahmed, was kidnapped last month in the northwestern town of Idlib.

The so-called "Brigades of Mohammed," who are reportedly affiliated with the so-called Free Syrian Army, have recently threatened to kill whoever might put himself as a candidate for the parliamentarian elections in Syria.