News

Syria presidential hopefuls to register from Monday: Gov't source

Apr 17 2014
Syria
Source: 
Hurriyet Daily News

Candidates for Syria's presidential election can begin registering on April 21, when the date for the vote will be announced, a government source told AFP on April 17.

On Monday April 21, the Council of the People (parliament) will meet to open registration for presidential candidates and set a date for the election," the source said.

Syria's government has insisted it will go ahead with presidential elections this year before the end of President Bashar al-Assad's term on July 17.

Syrian parliament to announce date of presidential elections next week

Apr 15 2014
Syria
Source: 
Al Bawaba News

Syria's parliament will announce the date of the country's presidential election to be held this year despite the country's ongoing civil war, according to Agence France Presse Tuesday.

 Syria's Al Watan newspaper stated that the speaker of the country's parliament Mohamed Jihad Lahham will announce the exact date of the vote which is expected to be held around June.

 President Bashar Assad's seven-year term expires on July 17.

The one certainty about Syria's looming election – Assad will win

Apr 13 2014
Syria
Source: 
The Guardian

It is election season in Syria and, to listen to government officials, the tumult of revolution and war will soon be replaced by the certainty of democracy.

Since the coup that led Hafez al-Assad to power more than 40 years ago, presidential elections in Syria have never been a contest of wills. And so it will be when the dictator's son Bashar al-Assad goes to the polls within months, the sole meaningful candiatate to run a country ravaged by a crisis that shows little sign of slowing.

Syrian opposition sees Lebanon election as life or death matter

Apr 10 2014
Syria
Source: 
The Daily Star Lebanon

Istanbul’s bustling streets, where tourists typically flock to attractions like Taksim Square and Askaray, is now also hosting a plethora of prominent Syrian opposition figures, many of whom have the upcoming presidential election in Lebanon in mind.

Along the popular Independence Street, amid the appetizing aromas of Turkish kebabs wafting through the air, The Daily Star met with Syrian opposition figures Wael al-Khalidi, of the Syrian Relief Commission and blogger Hamza Bakir, both of whom stressed that Lebanon’s next president should not have ties to the Syrian regime.

Presidential Election will not be delayed (Syria)

Apr 08 2014
Syria
Source: 
The Daily Star Lebanon

Syria’s presidential campaign has kicked off in earnest with candidates able to submit their applications during the last 10 days of April, according to Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi.

The minister also insisted that the elections would proceed on time, despite a raging civil war that has killed more than 150,000 people.

“The door for candidacy will open in the last 10 days of this month,” state news agency SANA quoted Zoubi as saying in an interview with Al-Manar late Monday.

Anti-Assad allies rebuff Syrian presidential election plan

Apr 03 2014
Syria
Source: 
The Daily Star Lebanon

International powers who support the Syrian opposition have firmly rebuffed any idea of a presidential election organised by the Syrian government in the midst of a civil war, describing the plans as a "parody of democracy" that would kill peace talks.

The Friends of Syria, an alliance of mainly Western and Gulf Arab countries, issued a statement on Thursday in light of recent developments in Syria, where there appears to be no end in sight after more than three years of conflict sparked by protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Anti-Assad allies rebuff Syrian presidential election plan

Apr 03 2014
Syria
Source: 
The Daily Star Lebanon

International powers who support the Syrian opposition have firmly rebuffed any idea of a presidential election organised by the Syrian government in the midst of a civil war, describing the plans as a "parody of democracy" that would kill peace talks.

The Friends of Syria, an alliance of mainly Western and Gulf Arab countries, issued a statement on Thursday in light of recent developments in Syria, where there appears to be no end in sight after more than three years of conflict sparked by protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Assad ‘prepares for election’ despite ongoing Syria crisis

Mar 30 2014
Syria
Source: 
Associated Press

Syrian president Bashar Assad is quietly preparing the ground to hold elections early this summer, even as the Syrian conflict rampages into its fourth year with large parts of the country either in ruins or under opposition control.

Amid the destruction, which has left more than 140,000 dead, presidential elections may seem impossible. But Syrian officials insist they will be held on time.

Assad ‘prepares for election’ despite ongoing Syria crisis

Mar 29 2014
Syria
Source: 
Associated Press

Syrian president Bashar Assad is quietly preparing the ground to hold elections early this summer, even as the Syrian conflict rampages into its fourth year with large parts of the country either in ruins or under opposition control.

Amid the destruction, which has left more than 140,000 dead, presidential elections may seem impossible. But Syrian officials insist they will be held on time.

Syrian parliament approves new election law

Mar 18 2014
Syria
Source: 
Associated Press

Syria’s parliament unanimously approved a new election law Thursday allowing multiple candidates to run for president, opening the door — at least in theory — to other potential contenders besides President Bashar Assad.

The vote comes nearly four months before Assad’s seven-year term as president officially expires. Syrian officials say the presidential elections will be held on time and Assad has suggested he would run again, though he hasn’t confirmed whether he'll seek re-election.

The poll must be held between 60 and 90 days before Assad’s term ends on July 17.

Siria aprueba una ley electoral pluralista para las elecciones presidenciales

Mar 15 2014
Syria
Source: 
Al Manar

El Parlamento sirio votó el jueves una ley electoral que instaura por primera vez el pluralismo político en el país. En virtud de la Constitución de 2012, varios candidatos pueden presentarse al puesto de presidente. La ley impide, sin embargo, a los sirios que residen en el extranjero presentarse a las elecciones.

Amid carnage of war, Syria readies for Assad re-election

Mar 06 2014
Syria
Source: 
Reuters

After three years of grinding conflict, the destruction of whole city districts and an exodus of refugees all triggered by an uprising against his rule, Bashar al-Assad is quietly preparing to be re-elected.

The Syrian president has not yet announced whether he will stand for a third term, in defiance of protesters, rebel fighters and Western foes who have demanded he go; but in state-controlled parts of Damascus preparations for his candidacy are unmistakable.

Al-Khatib will not run in elections again Al-Assad

Mar 04 2014
Syria
Source: 
Middle East Monitor

The former head of the Opposition Syrian Coalition Moaz Al-Khatib renewed his refusal to compete with Syrian regime President Bashar Al-Assad in presidential elections.

In a message published on his Facebook page yesterday, Al-Khatib wrote: "We will not give any legitimacy or a cover to the elections carried out by the regime, which aims at maintaining its existence in power. When there are objective circumstances for free elections, we will not hesitate to support them."

Syria’s foreign minister calls for ‘unconditional’ dialogue with opposition

Jan 09 2013
Syria
Source: 
al- Arabiya

Syrian Foreign Minister Omran al-Zo’bi called for “unconditional” dialogue with the country’s opposition to end the two-year conflict.

Zo’bi urged opposition forces to participate in what he called a “national dialogue,” and said that a specialized committee will start communicating with all political forces and figures to facilitate the inception of a national dialogue.

Domestic Syria opposition rejects Assad offer

Jan 07 2013
Syria
Source: 
al- Yazeera

Syria's tolerated opposition has rejected an offer to enter into talks with the government of President Bashar al-Assad to find a solution to end the 21-month conflict.

The National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria (NCB) made the announcement on Monday even as Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi said his cabinet would meet soon to draw up a mechanism for the peace roadmap announced by Assad.

On Sunday, Assad outlined in his first speech in months his vision to end the conflict that the UN says has killed 60,000 people.

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