Syrian election held amid apathy

By Kim Ghattas
BBC News, Damascus

Voters are set to go to the polls in Syria to elect a new parliament. 

But unlike the elections in Nigeria or France, there is almost no contest and voters are not showing much interest.

Two-thirds of the seats will go to the ruling Baath Party and its allies, and even state-controlled newspapers have deplored the lack of enthusiasm.

A number of dissidents are still in jail - a sign that little has changed in Syria since the President, Bashar Assad, came to power seven years ago.

'Truly democratic' 

All candidates for the parliament, known as the Assembly of People, are vetted by the authorities.

Former political prisoners - and there are many in Syria - are stripped of their civil rights and cannot stand in the elections or vote, and the rules make it impossible for any real independents to win.

For voters there is not much to talk about; there are not really any electoral platforms or ambitious promises to curb unemployment and deal with the pollution.

In Syria, effectively ruled by one party, there is no room for real politics.

“Never before have Syrians so openly voiced their lack of interest in the polls, and that is a sign that perhaps something is changing” 

And even with 2,000 candidates running for 250 seats, there is no election fever.

Adding to voter apathy is the mostly nominal role of the parliament - it cannot give or withdraw confidence to the government; it cannot draft laws, only debate those sent to it by the government; and it has no say in foreign policy.

Its first task will be to approve the Baath Party nomination of the president, Bashar Assad, for a second seven-year term.

Mr Assad will be the only candidate in a July referendum, but the authorities have described the elections as free and truly democratic.

But Syrian opposition groups said they were a farce and called for a boycott, criticising the lack of political reform since President Assad came to power seven years ago, despite all his promises for change.

A number of high-profile dissidents like Michel Kilo and Anwar Bunni have been in jail for almost a year now and they are still awaiting trial.

But there is one thing that is different in these elections - never before have Syrians so openly voiced their lack of interest in the polls, and that is a sign that perhaps something is changing in Syria.