SYRIA – Despite widespread condemnation, and accusations that polls were “neither free nor fair,” result of the presidential polls confirmed Bashar Al Assad. The latter has been re-elected for a fourth term, as president of a war-ravaged Syria.
The controversial election was the second, since the start of a long-aged (decade) civil conflict that has killed more than 380,000 people, millions displaced, battering country’s infrastructure.
The result was announced by the parliamentary Speaker, on Thursday, that “Assad won with a margin of 95.1 percent of the total votes cast, trouncing two virtually challengers”.
Opposing him were former State Minister Abdullah Salloum Abdullah, and Mahmud Ahmed. The former recieved 1.5 percent; while Ahmed got 3.3 percent according to official reports.
The United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy had said, on the eve of election (that), the poll was “neither free nor fair,” while Syria’s fragmented opposition called it a “farce”.
Before the election results were announced, tens of thousands of Syrians gathered Thursday in various cities to celebrate; waving Syrian flags, and carrying pictures of Assad.
Assad was first elected by referendum in 2000, after the death of his father Hafez Al Assad, who had ruled Syria for 30 years.
The UN-Syrian envoy, Geir Pederson, noted the polls were not held under the political transition called for by Security Council Revolution 2254, which provides for free and fair elections.
In rebel held Northwestern Syria, with a population of three million people; hundreds took to the street to protest on Wednesday, according to AFP correspondent.
They carried posters, saying, “No legitimacy for Assad, and his elections”.
Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News | May 28, 2021
