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Syria
A person walks next to election billboards depicting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus on May 24, 2021. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany and Italy released a joint statement late on Tuesday condemning Syria’s presidential election scheduled for Wednesday, claiming it will “neither be free nor fair.”
“We support the voices of all Syrians, including civil society organisations and the Syrian opposition, who have condemned the electoral process as illegitimate,” read the joint statement.
The election, the first since 2014, has been denounced by Kurdish political parties and the pro-Turkey opposition in Syria. Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava) have said polling will not be held in areas under their control.
“As outlined in the resolution [2254], free and fair elections should be convened under UN supervision to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability. For an election to be credible, all Syrians should be allowed to participate, including internally displaced Syrians, refugees, and members of the diaspora, in a safe and neutral environment,” said the five Western countries.
“Without these elements, this fraudulent election does not represent any progress towards a political settlement.”
President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled the country for 21 years, is widely expected to secure his fourth term as president. Wednesday’s election will be the second since the civil war started in the country in 2011.
Polling will only take place in areas controlled by Damascus. Assad has not controlled most of the northeast and northwest since 2011.
“We support the voices of all Syrians, including civil society organisations and the Syrian opposition, who have condemned the electoral process as illegitimate,” read the joint statement.
The election, the first since 2014, has been denounced by Kurdish political parties and the pro-Turkey opposition in Syria. Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava) have said polling will not be held in areas under their control.
“As outlined in the resolution [2254], free and fair elections should be convened under UN supervision to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability. For an election to be credible, all Syrians should be allowed to participate, including internally displaced Syrians, refugees, and members of the diaspora, in a safe and neutral environment,” said the five Western countries.
“Without these elements, this fraudulent election does not represent any progress towards a political settlement.”
President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled the country for 21 years, is widely expected to secure his fourth term as president. Wednesday’s election will be the second since the civil war started in the country in 2011.
Polling will only take place in areas controlled by Damascus. Assad has not controlled most of the northeast and northwest since 2011.
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