 DAMASCUS - SyriaÂ’s ruling Baath Party and its allies dominated parliamentary election that were held this week, results showed on Thursday. The winners, whose names were read by Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed, were overwhelmingly from the Baath Party and other allied parties or from supporters among the business class, tribes and government-controlled unions.
A majority in the 250-seat assembly is reserved for the Baath, which has ruled Syria for four decades, and its allies. Almost all of the candidates have been vetted and approved by the government. Dissidents boycotted the election, and even pro-government candidates said security forces stationed around the polls had prevented people from voting freely.
| It's a dictatorship for a reason. |
Abdel Majeed said at a news conference that turnout was supposedly 56 percent and that the elections were democratic. The polls were held on Sunday and Monday without independent monitors.
Syria has been under emergency law for four decades and no opposition parties are allowed. It holds elections every four years for its assembly, called the Council of the Selected People. |