Syria: The legislative elections taking place today across Syria are not free nor fair so our coverage of the election would be providing unneeded legitimacy

Instead we want to present the flaws of Syrian elections and the purpose behind them for the Assad regime. #Syria

The Arab Socialist Baath Party (ASBP-*) won every election since it came to power in a Coup d'etat in 1966. Nearly all other parties that were eligible for elections since have been a part of the National Progressive Front (NPF). #Syria

The NPF is an alliance of nationalist and left-wing supporters of the government who accept the Baath Party’s leading role. #Syria

Syria’s new constitution of 2012 in theory changed the status of the ASBP away from their previous role as “leader of the state and society” while lifting the general ban on any other parties to form outside of the NPF. #Syria

In practice, the pressure of the government-controlled security apparatus has not allowed any meaningful opposition parties to register for an election since. #Syria

In today’s election, even the sometimes tolerated “moderate” opposition groups, who are promoting reforms while being loyal to Assad, are absent from the polls. #Syria

Candidates vying for a place on an electoral list need to be approved by the security apparatus first, where they are chosen based on their previous loyalty and services to the Assad regime, even when they plan to run as an “independent candidate”. #Syria

The possibility of casting a vote from outside of the country is not granted. This is especially concerning at a time where at least 5.6 million Syrian refugees and the parts of the large Syrian diaspora are prevented from entering the country amidst the COVID-19 crisis #Syria

Inside of Syria, polling stations are available in around just 70% of the country's territory. The 2020 legislative elections are being boycotted by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava) and in other regions not controlled by the Assad regime. #Syria

So what does Assad get out of this? Well the newly elected People’s Council (legislature) will be responsible for approving the candidates for the Presidential Elections scheduled for 2021. #Syria

It will also be able to sign off a new constitution which makes it crucial for the regime to occupy the seats with hard-line loyalists, especially with the expected pressure from allied Russia to limit some of the presidential powers in the upcoming constitution. #Syria

Membership in the People’s Council is also seen as a way to reward important figures who helped the Assad Regime regain control over a large percentage of the Syrian territory during the ongoing Civil War. This ranges from militia leaders, to important economic figures. #Syria