I hoped against all odds that, with the present Syrian elections, there would be some signs of a country moving forward; if not a full step forward then at least a half step. Hell I would happily take an eighth of as step forward. Unfortunately, the elections appear to have been more of the same, a show replete with the illusion of a democratic process, the illusion of real choice, but whose outcome was predetermined; in short, a farce. But as Abraham Lincoln once said: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." After almost thirty five years of inept Baathist rule no one is fooled. The Syrian people voted unanimously, by staying home. They stayed home not in response to opposition calls for a boycott of the elections but because the empty slogans from predictable candidates did no inspire them in an election whose outcome will be no different than any other in recent memory.
In the end, the Baath party and its National Progressive Front allies gained three seats of the 250 seat Majlis el Shaab (People's Congress) at the expense of three from the independents who are down to 80 representatives. The whole electoral process was so opaque that you couldn't even get an accurate accounting of the basic numbers. Different news reports, all quoting official sources, put the number of candidates for the 250 seat Majlis al Shaab (People's Congress) at anywhere between 900 and 2500 (or was it 10,000?). I have yet to see real numbers about the turnout of eligible voters. A report of Hassakeh suggested a turnout of 1.5% on the first day of elections. The government admitted to dismally low turnout numbers but blamed it on the opposition's call for a boycott. Additionally, there were reports of many irregularities including the addition of shadow lists of Baath-approved independent candidates and of Baath activists going door to door to force people to fill and cast their ballots.
So how can one trust an election skewed to favored those in power and whose electoral machinery is not transparent for all to see? And what does the single digit turnout tell us about the legitimacy of those elected? After seven years of empty promises for real reform, the Syrian people are losing their patience.
3 comments:
Abu Kareem, why 7 more years??? the dad ruled for 30+ years...the son is pretty healthy and had an early start...he also know how to smile and show his innocent face when people are visiting him only to do exactly the opposite afterwards.
It is better to not care for Syria anymore!!!! but how can we stay silent when they randomly throw people in jail, fabricate charges then sentence them for breaking the law!!!!!
It is very sad times for Syria and Syrian people. The regime has put the skin of his ass on its face and become shameless. Minister of expatriates calls who did not vote traitors, other minister Billal claimed of democratic election and the unique Syrian experience and telling the whole world that the regime does not take criticisms, he must too full of himself. The internet coverage for the parliamentary election proved that people can do a lot in the face of tyranny. I hope in the next referendum on the president people will do the same by boycotting the election and people who have to go there to have the courage to put big NO
As you rightly point out, no-one is being fooled anymore..
The whole thing is so much of a joke, and most of us have lost interest a very long time ago..
To tell you the truth, I really did not know which day the election was being held..
THAT's how much iterest I, for one, had in the whole process...
I guess Dr. Sha3ban believes I'm a traitor..
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