2012 Syrian parliamentary election

none October 2020 Syria parliamentary 2007 Syrian parliamentary election 2007 2016 Syrian parliamentary election 2016 All 250 seats in the Parliament of Syria 126 7 May 2012 10,118,000 51.26% ( 4.86pp) Bashar_al-Assad_(cropped).jpg Bashar al-Assad Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region National Progressive Front (Syria) 169 168 1 ff7070 Qadri Jamil M2017-05.jpg 210 100 150 5 50 center Qadri Jamil People's Will Party PFCL New 6 6 Speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region Mohammad Jihad al-Laham Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region 1980 2012 Syrian Parliamentary election.svg Parliamentary elections were held in Syria on 7 May 2012 to elect the members of the Syrian People's Council.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-14/annan-expects-answer-to-syrian-proposal/3887524 "Syria's Assad calls May election", ABC News ABC Australia 14 March 2012 8 May 2012 22 August 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190822121232/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-14/syria-assad-calls-may-election/3887524 live The elections followed the approval of a new constitution in a referendum on 26 February 2012.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-election-idUSTRE81E0N520120215 Syria parliament election 90 days after new constitution 15 February 2012 15 February 2012 Reuters 16 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120216071400/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/15/us-syria-election-idUSTRE81E0N520120215 live Background The elections were postponed from May 2011 to February 2012 and then again, due to the civil war and the referendum on a new constitution.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/7433668.html Syria postpones parliamentarian elections: report People's Daily 8 July 2011 27 February 2012 The 250-seat parliament's term expired March 2011 but it was extended in accordance with the country's new constitution.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-03/13/c_131465202.htm Syria's Assad orders parliamentary elections on May 7 Xinhua 13 March 2012 8 May 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150122191120/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-03/13/c_131465202.htm 22 January 2015 dmy-all Only a few days before the date announced, peace envoy Kofi Annan said he was awaiting a response from the Syrian leader on "concrete proposals". He had submitted these to him in two rounds of talks in Damascus at the weekend prior to the announcement on the election.http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=51178 "Assad sets date for parliamentary elections as Annan awaits response", Middle East Online Middle-east-online.com 13 March 2012 8 May 2012 24 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120424020040/http://middle-east-online.com/english/?id=51178 dead On 13 March, President Assad signed decree No.113 setting the election on 7 May 2012.http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=119300 "Syria's Interior Ministry: Preparations for People's Assembly Elections Completed", Press Day News, May 3, 2012 Dp-news.com 8 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20150122131157/http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=119300 22 January 2015 dead The date of polls was announced on the day when Syrian pro-government forces launched a fresh assault on rebel strongholds in the country’s northwest.http://en.ria.ru/world/20120313/172137429.html "Syria Sets May 7 as Parliamentary Polls Date", RIA Novosti 13 March 2012 En.ria.ru 8 May 2012 24 July 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140724090417/http://en.ria.ru/world/20120313/172137429.html live Regulation The 7 May election was the first to follow the constitution's new outline for political plurality, revoking a clause put in place by Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled for nearly 30 years until his death in 2000. The clause stated that Assad's ruling Baath Party was "leader of state and society". Under the new constitution, parties cannot be founded on a religious, tribal, regional, denominational, or profession-related basis or be a branch of or affiliated to a non-Syrian party or political organisation. This would exclude the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood or Kurdish parties seeking regional autonomy. Also, at least half of the members of the assembly should be workers and farmers, as defined by law.Iqbal Nomia https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-17957166 Syrian Elections Branded 'a sham' BBC 4 May 2012 8 May 2012 20 August 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240820161026/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-17957166 live In July 2011, the Syrian cabinet endorsed the general elections bill as part of the government's reform program to end months of unrest. The bill stipulates the formation of the Supreme Commission for Elections to manage the election process. Nine newly licensed parties have been formed to challenge the front dominated by the Baath Party, which has ruled since 1972. The elections were conducted through identity card according to the decree No.125 from 2011.June 2023 Campaign By early May 2012, main streets in Damascus were covered with candidates' posters and banners draped over squares.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0502/1224315456808.html Syria's multiparty election campaign gets into full swing The Irish Times 2 May 2012 8 May 2012 2 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120502104228/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0502/1224315456808.html live The Financial Times claimed that "the rapid emergence of so many willing prospective MPs from a repressive dictatorship with no history of political activism is just one of many clumsy signs that the vote is orchestrated by the regime to entrench its power".Peel Michael https://www.ft.com/content/53b97978-9213-11e1-867e-00144feab49a Syrian critics see election as a sham Financial Times 29 April 2012 8 May 2012 However most of the parties which had candidates elected - the two Communist parties, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the Arab Socialist Union and the Social Unionists (see below) - are well established, and have participated in previous parliamentary elections. The largest opposition group participating in the election was the Popular Front for Change and Liberation, which had 45 candidates, including six in Damascus Governorate, headed by their leader, Qadri Jamil. The Popular Front brought together Jamil's unlicensed People’s Will Party with the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which was a tolerated party under the National Progressive Front led by Assad's Ba'ath Party.Syrian Parliamentary Elections: Cynicism Wins The Day https://web.archive.org/web/20120811231709/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syrian-parliamentary-elections-cynicism-wins-day 11 August 2012 , Al Akhbar (Lebanon), 7 May 2012 Organisation process Due to the ongoing fighting in Syria, questions were raised over the organization of the vote as in the cities of Homs, Hama, Daraa and in the northern province of Idlib are in ongoing war between the rebels and the pro-government forces. On the day of the announcement of the election, Melhem al-Droubi, a member of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and the Syrian National Council told Reuters: "Of course we will boycott the elections because they will be fixed. But this is not a main focus for us. What we want is real change with a real presidential election, which Assad would surely lose".http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=87171 https://web.archive.org/web/20150403092055/http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=87171 usurped 3 April 2015 Assad announces Syria parliamentary poll date World Bulletin 13 March 2012 8 May 2012 However, the government said that this multi-party election was a historic step for comprehensive reform.https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-07-la-fg-syria-election-20120508-story.html Los Angeles Times Rima Marrouch Syrian opposition boycotts parliamentary elections 7 May 2012 14 August 2024 28 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230928020846/https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-07-la-fg-syria-election-20120508-story.html live 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.Syrian Arab News Agency http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/03/26/408548.htm People's Assembly Appeals to the President for Delaying Legislative Elections until Comprehensive Reforms Consolidated Sana.sy 26 March 2012 8 May 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120330025628/http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/03/26/408548.htm 30 March 2012AGI – Agenzia Giornalistica Italia http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201203261900-pol-ren1078-syrian_parliament_urges_assad_deferral_of_may_7_elections "Syrian Parliament urges Assad deferral of May 7 elections", AGI.it, March 26, 2012 Agi.it 26 March 2012 8 May 2012 dead https://archive.today/20120718160449/http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201203261900-pol-ren1078-syrian_parliament_urges_assad_deferral_of_may_7_elections 18 July 2012http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_03_26/69685148/ Assad asked to postpone elections Voice of Russia 26 March 2012 8 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120328001457/http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_03_26/69685148/ 28 March 2012 dead Louay Hussein, who was jailed for seven years under Hafez al-Assad, 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". On 3 May 2012, Assistant Interior Minister for Civil Affairs Brigadier General Hassan Jalali said that the Ministry had completed all preparations for the elections. In a statement to SANA, he added that the ministry handed the governors the poll boxes, invisible ink and curtains for invisible rooms and other equipment to distribute them on the 12,152 election centers throughout the country.Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria – syria news http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2012/05/03/416439.htm "Preparations for People's Assembly Elections Completed at 12152 Election Centers", May 3, 2012/ Sana.sy 3 May 2012 8 May 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120511050127/http://sana.sy/eng/21/2012/05/03/416439.htm 11 May 2012 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.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0504/1224315590026.html "Pre-election chaos causes dismay among Syrian voters", IRISH TIMES.COM, May 4, 2012 The Irish Times 4 May 2012 8 May 2012 5 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120505080002/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0504/1224315590026.html live Conduct Polls opened at 7:00 as Syrian state television showed voters lining up and dropping white ballots in large, plastic boxes.Associated Press https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syria-holds-parliamentary-vote-that-opposition-boycotts-dismisses-as-sham/2012/05/07/gIQAX6eG7T_story.html "Syria holds parliamentary vote that opposition boycotts, dismisses as sham", Washington Post, May 7, 2012 The Washington Post 8 May 2012 June 2021 medicmedic Up to 14.8 million voters were eligible to choose 250 legislators from 7,195 candidates, including 710 women from 12 different political parties, including seven newly formed political partieshttp://www.smh.com.au/world/syria-turns-out-for-poll-despite-opposition-boycott-20120507-1y90w.html The Sydney Morning Herald Syria turns out for poll despite opposition boycott 8 May 2012http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/07/c_131573576.htm Syrian parliamentary elections moving smoothly with "remarkable" turnout: minister - Xinhua English.news.cn 2012-05-07 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120513064641/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/07/c_131573576.htm 13 May 2012 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.Associated Press https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/activists-mock-syrias-parliamentary-elections-in-online-videos/2012/05/07/gIQAb50K8T_story.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120507180316/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/activists-mock-syrias-parliamentary-elections-in-online-videos/2012/05/07/gIQAb50K8T_story.html 7 May 2012 "Activists mock Syria's parliamentary elections in online videos", Washington Post, May 7, 2012 The Washington Post 8 May 2012 dead 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.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/09/c_131578032.htm Syrian candidate says parliamentary elections marred with violations - Xinhua English.news.cn news.xinhuanet.com dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120515002807/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/09/c_131578032.htm 2012-05-15 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. Iranian Envoy: Syrians' High Turnout in Elections Foils Enemies' Plots http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9102112225 Fars News Agency Tehran, Iran 15 May 2012 21 May 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120515171757/http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9102112225 15 May 2012 Results Of 10.118 million people eligible to cast their votes, 5.186 million participated, yielding a voter turnout of 51.26 percent. Syrian president orders new parliament to convene Thursday http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/21/c_131601597.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20140118201819/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/21/c_131601597.htm dead 18 January 2014 Xinhua 21 May 2012 21 May 2012 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. File:Parlamentswahl Syrien 2012 Sitze.svg National Progressive Front 7 Ba'ath Party 134 0 Socialist Unionist Party 18 +12 Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash) 8 +3 Syrian Communist Party (Faisal) 3 0 National Covenant Party 3 0 Arab Socialist Union Party 2 –6 y 168 Popular Front forChange and Liberation 3 Syrian Social Nationalist Party 4 #FF7070 +2 People's Will Party 1 #E90606 New y 5 Independents 77 –4 5186957 10118000 Syrian Parliament, IPU Reactions United States - The election was criticised as "bordering on ludicrous." Syria braces to announce election results as UN warns of civil war http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/09/c_123097392.htm Xinhua 9 May 2012 21 May 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120514063005/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-05/09/c_123097392.htm 14 May 2012 Aftermath On 25 May 2012, the People's Assembly has held its first session in which members were sworn in, with Mohammad Jihad al-Laham being elected as Speaker."Newly-elected Syria parliament holds first session", Xinhua https://web.archive.org/web/20120530013948/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2012-05/25/c_131610601.htm 30 May 2012 References Category:2012 in the Syrian civil war Category:Parliamentary elections in Syria Syria Category:2012 in Syria Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results Category:May 2012 in Syria