Credit:Željko Heimer (FOTW Flags Of The World website at flagspot.net)

Election Date: April 22, 2007

At stake: People's Council

Background

The Arab Syrian Republic shares borders with Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. It was once the heart of the Islamic Empire. Syria became a fully independent nation in Jan. 1, 1944, after being under French administration since the end of World War I. In 1941, France agreed to create an independent Syrian Republic as well as a Lebanese republic. The French kept troops in Syrian territory until 1946.

In 1954, Syria joined the United Nations (UN). Political instability, several coups and internal divisions marked the following decade. In 1953, Adib al-Shishakli, who had led a coup in 1949 and had been in power since, promulgated a new constitution and the country adopted a presidential form of government. Al-Shishakli was elected president of Syria. One year later, he was overthrown.

In Feb. 27, 1958, Syria and Egypt formed the United Arab Republic. Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser served as president of the new country. The alliance soon collapsed, and Syria became an independent state again in 1961 after a group of Syrian military officers led a revolution against growing Egyptian power.

During the 1960s, Syria underwent a fast-paced process of industrialization. Syria is nowadays an important exporter of oil, which accounts for over 60 per cent of its exports. Syria's Arab Socialist Baath Party, founded in 1947 and currently in power, emerged as the most important political force during the mid 1950s and early 1960s. The party's ideology combines socialist doctrines with Arab nationalism. During the seventies, internal divisions between a progressive and a nationalist branch marked the future of Baath.

Nationalists leader Hefez Assad—who advocated for the defeat of Israel and putting an end to Soviet influence—was elected president in 1971 in a referendum. Assad had ousted progressive leader Nureddin Al-Atassi—who sought tighter relations with the Soviet Union—in 1970. Also in 1971, Syria, Libya and Egypt created the Federation of Arab Republics.

Syria lost part of its territory to Israel during the Arab-Israeli war. The Golan Heights—approximately 1,860 square kilometres of land—was seized by Israel during the 1967 war, and annexed to its territory in 1981. Syria and Egypt went to war against Israel again in 1973 but failed to take the Golan Heights back. It is estimated that there are currewntly 42 Israeli settlements in the area.

Assad brought political stability to Syria by keeping a tight grip on the country's economy and every aspect of government, while also suppressing political opposition. Assad was re-elected three times. After his death in July 2000, his son, Bashar Assad, became president after being approved by popular referendum.

In 2002, the United States State Department included Syria in the list of the so-called "Axis of Evil" and accused Syria of seeking weapons of mass destruction.

Syria's relationship with its neighbours remains a delicate subject. The country of 18.8 million people, most of them Arabs and Sunni Muslims, plays a major role in the Middle East at the moment. The Syrian government has engaged in several peace negotiations with Israel over the Golan Heights, with no results until now. Israel and Syria have no diplomatic relations. The Jewish state considers Syria to be a sponsor of terrorism. In August 2006, Israeli internal security minister Avi Dichter presented a proposal to negotiate for peace with Syria in return for the Golan Heights. Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert dismissed the idea.

In 1976, Syria sent troops to Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war. Syrian soldiers remained in the country even after the war ended. They sided with Muslim forces fighting against Christian militias in 1980 and 1981. Since 2001, it became clear that the Lebanese people resented the Syrian presence in their country.

In 2005, former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri was killed in Lebanon. Syria was accused of planning the assassination. Under growing pressure, Syria finally withdrew all of its forces from Lebanon in April 2005. Later in that same year, a UN inquiry into the assassination implicated senior Syrian officials.

2007 People's Council Election

Syria will hold a legislative election on Apr. 22, and a referendum on the president's tenure in July. Syria is a parliamentary republic, where power is shared by the president and the ruling Arab Socialist Baath Party. There is no real opposition in Syria, which has been under state of emergency since 1963. The current constitution grants power to only one party. Current Syrian president Bashar Assad serves as secretary-general of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, and as leader of the National Progressive Front.

In December 2006, the U.S. government confirmed it is supporting the opposition ahead of the Syrian legislative election. There are no expectations for any political change to occur in Syria as a result of the election.

In a January 2007 interview published in Al Khaleej, National Democratic Union spokesman Hassan Abedelazim rejected allegations that the Syrian opposition received $5 million U.S. from the American government to finance its activities. These parties, which form a loose alliance, have urged for the end of emergency rule, and called for improvements in the area of human rights.

On Apr. 3, United States House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Syria in a move that drew international attention. Syria is deemed a "state sponsor of terrorism" by the U.S. State Department, and the two countries have not had any diplomatic ties since 2005. That year, the government of Republican president George W. Bush decided to withdraw the American ambassador form Damascus after a United Nations (UN) investigation linked top Syrian officials to Hariri's assassination in Lebanon. The Syrian government has always dismissed the UN report. More recently, the U.S. has accused Syria of sponsoring militias that attack U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

Pelosi—a Democrat and critic of Bush's foreign policy—met with Syrian president Assad. She was well received by Syrian officials, who also took her to visit historic sites in Damascus. The Syrian media hailed her visit as a potential breakthrough in U.S.-Syrian relations, with the Syria Times calling her a "brave lady on an invaluable mission." Pelosi and her delegation are among some politicians who believe Syria should be involved with western nations in finding a solution for different conflicts affecting the Middle East.

On Apr. 11, the National Progressive Front urged for the support of the population in a statement carried by the official SANA News agency, which read: "The NPF central committee calls on citizens to exercise their national duty in going to the polls to elect the NPF lists and most competent representatives to the People's Council. The poll represents a referendum on Syrian policy led by Bashar Assad."

In April, the government-controlled Tishreen newspaper called on citizens to take part in the process. The editorial read: "Nothing on the ground indicates that the Syrian people are showing enthusiasm for the forthcoming elections for the People's Council."

Voting took place on Apr. 22 and Apr. 23. Low turnout was reported in Damascus and Aleppo. Banned National Democratic Rally (NDR) spokesman Hassan Abdel-Azim discussed the process, claiming it is "pointless to take part in an election whose results are known in advance. (...) The National Progressive Front will come out the winner."

Official results were released on Apr. 26. As expected, the National Progressive Front will keep its majority in the People's Council with 172 seats—two more than the 170 it was guaranteed of holding—with independents accounting for the remaining 78 mandates.

Turnout was tabled at 56.12 per cent. No independent election monitors, either foreign or domestic, were present during the process.

On May 10, the People's Council proposed incumbent president Assad for a new seven-year term in office. On May 27, Assad was ratified in a nationwide referendum with the support of 97.62 per cent of voters. He was officially anointed on May 29.

Political Players

President: Bashar Assad - Baath
Prime minister: Muhammad Naji al-Otari - Baath

The president is approved by a referendum to serve a seven-year term, and is also the secretary-general of the Arab Socialist Baath Party and the leader of the National Progressive Front.

Legislative Branch: The People's Council (Majlis al-Sha'ab) has 250 members, elected to four-year terms in 15 multi-seat constituencies, in which 167 seats are guaranteed for the National Patriotic Front.

Results of Last Election:

People's Council - Apr. 22, 2007

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