Syria holds first multi-party elections in half a century

Polling stations opened across Syria on Monday for the country’s first multi-party parliamentary elections in half a century. The elections follow a referendum on a new constitution in February that ended the ruling Baath Party’s monopoly on power, allowing other political parties to run for seats in the 250-strong parliament. Nine parties were created ahead of the vote and seven have candidates running for parliamentary seats. Pro-government parties, led by the Baath Party, form a coalition called the National Progressive Front, which largely won the previous elections.

The Syrian authorities have vowed that the elections, touted as a milestone in the country’s history, will be “free, transparent and fair.” But the opposition is boycotting the vote, saying Syria's revised constitution has changed nothing and blaming the government for the continuing bloodshed despite a ceasefire in place since mid-April.

"It is impossible to hold free elections when the country has no recognized opposition, the opposition media and there is no free political life. Moreover, in fact, when the country is in the middle of internal war, when in different parts of the Syrian there are daily armed clashes with people being killed. People there cannot participate in the elections even if they want, " said the famous Syrian opposition figure Aref Dalila, RIA Novosti reports.

The next parliament, he says, "will not be substancially different from the previous."

"Elections are held to the same standards as before. Majority of the seats in parliament will go to the representatives of the Ba'ath and other parties in the National Progressive Front. Plus, a number of places will go to the parties, formed under the new law on parties, which does not differ from the old, " said Delilah.

In turn, many voters believe that candidates for whom they gave their votes today, will adequately represent their interests.