Ruling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was announced the winner of the much criticised Syrian elections on Wednesday, taking 88.7% of the vote and securing a third term in office, as fighting continued in many parts of the country.
Opposition controlled areas did not see any voting, yet Syria's constitutional court put the turnout at 73.42%. The two other men on the ticket, who received only 4.3% and 3.2% of the vote, were dismissed by the opposition, claiming they were token candidates who provided no real alternative to the Assad regime.
The elections were also slammed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said, “The elections are non-elections. A great big zero”. Speaking in Lebanon, he went on to add, "You can't have an election where millions of your people don't even have an ability to vote... Nothing has changed between the day before the election and after”.
He was joined by the European Union in his criticism who stated it was not "a genuinely democratic vote".
However, a delegation from over 30 countries, which included Iran, Russia and Venezuela, were also in Damascus on Wednesday, and declared their support of the "transparent and free" elections.
Despite those claims, many in opposition held territory openly rejected what they stated was a farcical process. The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, reporting from Damascus, said “it was an act of homage to President Assad by his supporters, which was boycotted and rejected by those people who don't support him rather than an act of politics.”
The message was reinforced by the Islamic Front political leader, Hassan Abboud, who told the BBC,
He said, “Bashar al-Assad is not our president”.
Opposition controlled areas did not see any voting, yet Syria's constitutional court put the turnout at 73.42%. The two other men on the ticket, who received only 4.3% and 3.2% of the vote, were dismissed by the opposition, claiming they were token candidates who provided no real alternative to the Assad regime.
The elections were also slammed by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said, “The elections are non-elections. A great big zero”. Speaking in Lebanon, he went on to add, "You can't have an election where millions of your people don't even have an ability to vote... Nothing has changed between the day before the election and after”.
He was joined by the European Union in his criticism who stated it was not "a genuinely democratic vote".
However, a delegation from over 30 countries, which included Iran, Russia and Venezuela, were also in Damascus on Wednesday, and declared their support of the "transparent and free" elections.
Despite those claims, many in opposition held territory openly rejected what they stated was a farcical process. The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, reporting from Damascus, said “it was an act of homage to President Assad by his supporters, which was boycotted and rejected by those people who don't support him rather than an act of politics.”
The message was reinforced by the Islamic Front political leader, Hassan Abboud, who told the BBC,
"Our people will never again accept Bashar after all the bloodshed, the millions of refugees, the relentless shelling, and the systemic surrender or starve tactics against besieged areas.”
"So we will not accept any pressure for half measures. The people want the regime out. This is what everyone took to the streets for at the beginning and we will continue until we achieve it. These are elections of blood. Our reply to them will be on the battlefield."A fighter in Qaboun, bluntly told the New York Times that the election results were meaningless.
He said, “Bashar al-Assad is not our president”.