- Title: SYRIA: Syrians vote in parliamentary elections
- Date: 23rd April 2007
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RAFIDA AL-DIB, VOTER, SAYING: "I wish for women to have a louder voice in the Council (of the People, the Syrian parliament) and to have a more effective role. These things are often spoken of but not put into practice, so I hope they will have a more effective role."
- Embargoed: 8th May 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAC8616QUQC2B933HGS0CRFZAC0
- Story Text: Syrians head to polling stations to elect members of the Council of the People, the country's parliament. Syrians headed to polling stations on Sunday (April 22) to vote in a tightly controlled election certain to maintain the ruling Baath Party's domination of parliament.
The assembly, called the Council of the People, is elected every four years and has little say over policy. Syria has been under emergency law for four decades and no opposition parties are allowed.
The Baath, which has ruled Syria since 1963, controls all divisions of government. Power firmly rests in the hands of President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his late father, Hafez al-Assad, in 2000.
A majority in the 250-seat assembly is effectively reserved for the Baath and its allies. Almost all of the 2,400 candidates have been vetted and approved by the government.
Witnesses said turnout was low with few people, other than government workers pushed to vote, casting a ballot.
One woman voter said she hoped the elections would give women more of a say in politics.
"I wish for women to have a louder voice in the Council (of the People, the Syrian parliament) and to have a more effective role. These things are often spoken of but not put into practice, so I hope they will have a more effective role," voter Rafida al-Dib said.
In Damascus, where government-backed lists include well-connected businessmen and religious leaders, ballot boxes at seven polling stations were largely empty by midday.
"We want this step (the election) to strengthen our national unity and our respect for each other and make (political) moderation a way of life," said cleric Saleh Keftaro.
Dissidents, a number of whom have been imprisoned or forced into exile in the last two years, have boycotted the polls, dismissing it as a sham.
The Interior Ministry said it had distributed 7.6 million election cards that entitled its holders to vote among a population of 19 million.
Even pro-government candidates criticised management of the elections, saying officials and security forces stationed around the polls were preventing people from voting freely.
Voting can be extended until Monday (April 23) if the government deems fit. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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