- Title: SYRIA: Parliamentary candidates campaing ahead of April 22 election
- Date: 20th April 2007
- Summary: (MER1) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (APRIL 17, 2007) (REUTERS): YOUNG MEN RIDING HORSES AND CARRYING POSTERS PROMOTING A CANDIDATE RIDING DOWN STREET
- Embargoed: 5th May 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5R6887ZZUYDY981HHWCFZJQYS
- Story Text: Candidates address voters ahead of Syrian parliamentary election on April
Some 10,000 candidates are canvassing the electorate's votes ahead of the April 22 Syrian parliamentary elections.
Thousands of posters and leaflets fill the streets of the capital damascus as the candidates, among them 1,000 women, set up large tents in public spaces in which they host members of the public and promote their electoral platforms.
Many of these platforms centre on economic issues.
"We want to complete economic legislation which has not yet been passed. An example is the legislation dealing with real estate, which allows investment in real estate, something that used to be subjected to special rules. There is also legislation which complements the socialist market economy," said independent parliamentary candidate Baha' al-Din Hassan.
The Baathist government has taken a few steps in recent years to reverse decades of nationalisation but the state remains a major player in the economy.
The Baath Party has ruled Syria since 1963 and dominates the 250-seat parliament, which is elected every four years but has little influence in making policy. One hundred and seventy seats are reserved for Baath candidates, with the remaining 80 seats up for grabs by the independent candidates.
With violence raging in Iraq next door, security is also a major theme in the electoral platforms of many candidates.
"There is still a need for the multi-party system but we understand that the priority must go to promoting security and stability in Syria. When we no longer have security and stability in Syria we will be the biggest losers. We are defending ourselves at this stage in order to bring about stability. The situation in Iraq now is frightening, terrifying. We have to promote the stability of our country. If some democratic reforms are postponed, people will understand the reasons behind that and accept it," said independent candidate Mohammed Habash.
President Bashar al-Assad promised to enact political reforms when he succeeded his late father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000, but human rights activists say little tangible improvement has taken place in that direction.
Al-Assad is expected to win easily a referendum to appoint him to a second seven-year term due to be held before mid-July. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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