Politics Parliamentary elections in Syria - observers speak of "farce"

For the fourth time since the beginning of the civil war in Syria in 2011, residents in government-held areas have voted on a new parliament. Observers spoke of a farce to help President Bashar al-Assad gain more recognition.

In 15 districts controlled by the government, around 1500 candidates stood for election for 250 seats in parliament. According to the state agency Sana, the chairman of the committee responsible for the elections said that there were no signs of violations of the electoral law.

It is "a farce in itself" that the Assad government is trying to restore its legitimacy in the country, said Makram Rabba, a history professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Assad's central administration is not recognized in many regions, and in view of the occupation by Iranian militias and Turkish troops, it has no sovereignty over the country. "No one in their right mind can speak of democratic, transparent elections when the country is occupied by the Syrian dictatorship or foreign forces," said Rabba.

An election without surprises

No surprises are expected. Assad's Baath Party is expected to win the majority of seats in parliament. This is the fourth parliamentary election since the uprisings against Assad began in 2011, which were brutally suppressed and then turned into a civil war. Millions of people have been displaced by the years of conflict and are living as refugees in neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Turkey.

Syrians in the last major rebel area of Idlib in the northwest, as well as residents in areas controlled by Kurdish rebels in the northeast, are not taking part in the election.