Syrian presidential elections: Bashar al-Assad wins fourth time period with an anticipated landslide; The United States and Europe are skeptical of legitimacy

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad lift nationwide flags and images of Assad as they rejoice in Umayyad Square in Damascus. AP

DamascusSyrian President Bashar al-Assad was once overwhelmingly re-elected, officers mentioned Thursday, beginning a fourth seven-year time period within the war-torn nation after elections described through the West and combatants as illegitimate and sham.

Assad’s victory was once now not unsure, in an election during which officers mentioned 18 million have been eligible to vote. But in international locations devastated through the 10-year warfare, elections weren’t held in spaces managed through rebels or Kurdish-led forces. At least 8 million, maximum of whom are displaced, are living in the ones spaces in northwestern and northeastern Syria. More than 5 million refugees – maximum of whom are living in neighboring international locations – in large part abstained from vote casting.

US and European officers have additionally puzzled the legitimacy of the elections, pronouncing they violate established United Nations resolutions to get to the bottom of the warfare, lack any world oversight, and don’t constitute all Syrians.

The Speaker of the Syrian Parliament, Hammoud Al-Sabbagh, introduced the overall result of Wednesday’s vote. He mentioned that Assad were given 95.1 p.c of the vote. He mentioned that the turnout was once 78.6 p.c of electorate, within the 17-hour election on Wednesday with out the presence of unbiased observers.

Assad was once dealing with symbolic pageant from two applicants – a former minister and a former opposition determine.

Assad’s victory comes at a time when the rustic stays devastated through warfare. The preventing has subsided, however the warfare is a ways from over. The financial disaster is getting worse in a rustic the place greater than 80 p.c of the inhabitants lives under the poverty line and the place the native forex is depreciating.

Al-Assad, his shut mates, and govt officers are dealing with expanding Western sanctions, along with the ones already in position, that have escalated with the outbreak of the warfare. European and American governments blame Assad and his aides for lots of the warfare’s atrocities.

Celebrations erupted in Damascus, as bonfires and fireworks lit up the evening sky. Thousands collected within the grand squares of Damascus and the coastal town of Tartus, dancing and waving flags and images of Assad. They chanted, “With soul and blood, we defend you, Bashar,” and “We choose only three, God, Syria and Bashar.”

A big theater was once erected within the capital’s Umayyad Square, the place loudspeakers blared patriotic songs. A singer gave the impression on a degree arrange in Tartous Square, dressed in the Syrian flag. Almost nobody was once dressed in a face masks, even if Syria faces a emerging demise toll Corona Virus circumstances.

The elections are most likely to supply little alternate within the scenario in Syria. While Assad and his allies, Russia and Iran, would possibly search to seal a brand new legitimacy for the present president since 2000, his re-election is more likely to deepen the rift with the West, pushing him nearer to Russian and Iranian backers as smartly. like China.