Syrians cast votes

– Syrians voted yesterday to elect a new parliament as the Damascus government grapples with international sanctions and a crumbling economy after retaking large parts of the war-torn country.

More than 7 400 polling stations opened across government-held parts of Syria, including for the first time in former opposition strongholds, in the third such polls since the war started nine years ago.

Several lists were allowed to run across the country but without any real opposition, President Bashar al-Assad’s Baath party and its allies are expected to take most of parliament’s 250 seats.

The president and his wife, Asma, cast their votes in the capital, the presidency said.

Volunteers stood outside polling stations carrying the programmes and pictures of their favourite candidates, and tried to woo passersby to come in and vote.

Among the first to cast his ballot in Damascus was 50-year-old Khaled al-Shaleh.

“My demands are for the parliament to realise what laws need changing in the interest of the citizen,” said the government employee.

Portraits of the contenders have been displayed across the capital, with the 1 658 candidates including prominent businessmen.

The elections, twice postponed from April due to the coronavirus pandemic, come at a time when most Syrians are worried about the soaring cost of living. Many candidates are running on programmes pledging to tackle inflation and improve infrastructure.

Millions of Syrians living abroad, after fleeing a war that has killed more than 380 000 people, are not eligible to vote. – AFP

Damascus