2012 Syrian parliamentary election
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All 250 seats in the Parliament of Syria 126 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Parliamentary elections were held in
Background
The elections were postponed from May 2011 to February 2012 and then again, due to the
Regulation
The 7 May election was the first to follow the constitution's new outline for
Campaign
By early May 2012, main streets in Damascus were covered with candidates' posters and banners draped over squares.
The largest opposition group participating in the election was the
Organisation process
Due to the ongoing fighting in Syria, questions were raised over the organization of the vote as in the cities of
On 26 March 2012, SANA, the state-owned news agency reported the parliament asked President Bashar Al-Assad to consider delaying the election so that the comprehensive reforms are consolidated, waiting for the outcome of the comprehensive national dialogue and empowering the licensed parties in light of the new parties law.[15][16][17] Louay Hussein, who was jailed for seven years under Hafez al-Assad, Mr Assad’s father and predecessor, said he would boycott the election claiming the government was using the poll as a way to preempt and avoid "possible future negotiations with the opposition forces".[10]
On 3 May 2012, Assistant Interior Minister for Civil Affairs
While independents and members of licensed political parties declared their candidates some time before the election date, the pro-government Ba'ath party and its partners in the National Progressive Front did not do so until 1 May 2012.[19]
Conduct
Polls opened at 7:00 as Syrian state television showed voters lining up and dropping white ballots in large, plastic boxes.
It was unclear how extensive voting was throughout the country, especially in opposition area and places that were hard hit by government forces or witnessed clashes between troops and rebels. Activists said many towns observed general strikes and posted videos of blocks along main streets with all shops closed.[23]
The main opposition group that participated, the Popular Front for Change and Liberation, said that there had been "numerous violations" in the election including the banning of candidates' representatives from supervising the elections.[11]
Voting had to be re-conducted at several voting centres across the country due to unspecified election law violations. This caused a delay in the announcement of the election results.[24]
Results
Of 10.118 million people eligible to cast their votes, 5.186 million participated, yielding a voter turnout of 51.26 percent.[24][25]
With 30 of the 710 contesting women winning seats in the election, the number of women in parliament remained the same as during the previous period.[24]
Party or alliance | Seats | |||
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National Progressive Front | Ba'ath Party | 134 | ||
Socialist Unionist Party | 18 | |||
Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash) | 8 | |||
Syrian Communist Party (Faisal) | 3 | |||
National Covenant Party | 3 | |||
Arab Socialist Union Party | 2 | |||
Total | 168 | |||
Popular Front for Change and Liberation | Syrian Social Nationalist Party | 4 | ||
People's Will Party | 1 | |||
Total | 5 | |||
Independents | 77 | |||
Total | 250 | |||
Source: Syrian Parliament |
Reactions
- United States - The election was criticised as "bordering on ludicrous."[26]
Aftermath
On 25 May 2012 the parliament has held its first session in which members were sworn in, and Mohammad Jihad al-Laham was elected as Speaker.[27]
References
- ^ ""Syria's Assad calls May election", ABC News". Australia: ABC. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Syria parliament election 90 days after new constitution". Reuters. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "Syria postpones parliamentarian elections: report", People's Daily, 8 July 2011, retrieved 27 February 2012
- ^ "Syria's Assad orders parliamentary elections on May 7". Xinhua. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ ""Assad sets date for parliamentary elections as Annan awaits response", Middle East Online". Middle-east-online.com. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ a b ""Syria's Interior Ministry: Preparations for People's Assembly Elections Completed", Press Day News, May 3, 2012". Dp-news.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ ""Syria Sets May 7 as Parliamentary Polls Date", RIA Novosti". En.ria.ru. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ Iqbal, Nomia (4 May 2012). "Syrian Elections Branded 'a sham'". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Syria's multiparty election campaign gets into full swing". The Irish Times. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ a b Peel, Michael (29 April 2012). "Syrian critics see election as a sham". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Syrian candidate says parliamentary elections marred with violations - Xinhua | English.news.cn". news.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
- ^ Syrian Parliamentary Elections: Cynicism Wins The Day Archived 11 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Al Akhbar (Lebanon), 7 May 2012
- ^ "Assad announces Syria parliamentary poll date". World Bulletin. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ Marrouch, Rima (7 May 2012). "Syrian opposition boycotts parliamentary elections". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Syrian Arab News Agency (26 March 2012). "People's Assembly Appeals to the President for Delaying Legislative Elections until Comprehensive Reforms Consolidated". Sana.sy. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ AGI – Agenzia Giornalistica Italia (26 March 2012). ""Syrian Parliament urges Assad deferral of May 7 elections", AGI.it, March 26, 2012". Agi.it. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Assad asked to postpone elections". Voice of Russia. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria – syria news (3 May 2012). ""Preparations for People's Assembly Elections Completed at 12152 Election Centers", May 3, 2012/". Sana.sy. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ ""Pre-election chaos causes dismay among Syrian voters", IRISH TIMES.COM, May 4, 2012". The Irish Times. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ ""Syria holds parliamentary vote that opposition boycotts, dismisses as sham", Washington Post, May 7, 2012". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 8 May 2012.[dead link]
- ^ "Syria turns out for poll despite opposition boycott". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Syrian parliamentary elections moving smoothly with "remarkable" turnout: minister - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ ""Activists mock Syria's parliamentary elections in online videos", Washington Post, May 7, 2012". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "Iranian Envoy: Syrians' High Turnout in Elections Foils Enemies' Plots". Tehran, Iran. Fars News Agency. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Syrian president orders new parliament to convene Thursday". Xinhua. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Syria braces to announce election results as UN warns of civil war". Xinhua. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ "Newly-elected Syria parliament holds first session", Xinhua Archived 30 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine