Syria announces results of parliamentary elections
Syria, Politics, 3/6/2003

Syrian minister of the interior Mahmoud Hammoud Yesterday held a press conference in Damascus attended by local Syrian, Arab and foreign media agencies correspondents in Damascus in which he announced winners of the elections of the People's Assembly held on March 3 and 4.

Hammoud said:
I have the pleasure to welcome you as media men, journalists and correspondents at the Interior Ministry wishing you happy stay in Syria which has concluded today a distinguished democratic jump by the announcement of the 8th Legislative Course of the People's Assembly elections results.

You have experienced over the past days, particularly on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd of current March the activities of the electoral process, and you closely followed the zealous interest of our people in practicing their electoral right and national duty for electing their representatives to the membership of the People's Assembly under a democratic atmosphere enriched with the feeling of responsibility and freedom of balloting.

It is also a source of pleasure to me that you have already touched and the world through you the high level of the national consciousness of our various ranks of our people who have lived a real democratic festival since 16th of last January with the start of the candidacy to the membership of the People's Assembly until the closing of the balloting boxes on 3rd of current March.

The free competition among the candidates through their elections race were impressive whereby the candidates explained their visions and ideas and programs.

On 2nd 3rd of current March the democratic scene was completed when the majority of the people, including Politicians, businessmen, and social activists flocked to the balloting centers to vote for whom they see the most capable and qualified to express their will at the People's Assembly, the most important democratic establishment, through which our people can take part in the national decision making and in enhancing the march of abundant achievements and modernization process under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad who has given the democratic practice new dimensions by the adopting the principles of transparency innovation, creativity, and respecting the opinion of the other.

These new dimensions also include the guarantee of the freedom and dignity of the citizen, and the activation of the role of the institutions, modernization of laws, administrative reform, and development of all sectors of the national economy.

Our people, by their zealous flocking to the balloting boxes have manifested the sublime meanings of national unity, and the most gracious national response to select the members of the People's Assembly reflecting their awareness of the deeply rooted values of democracy and freedom, and of the requirements of the present and future in support of the march of building, steadfastness, modernization and development.

The elections results have reflected the widest representation of the various ranks and sectors of the people where the winners of the membership of the new People's Assembly enjoy high scientific qualifications and skills in various domains that allow the Assembly to exercise its national role in the best way possible.

The electoral process has projected the prominent position of women in our Syrian society, as well as their distinguished presence in shouldering national responsibilities and effective participation in the movement of the society.

The number of voters has reached according to the civil records 10,817,821 including the Syrian nationals living abroad, and could not come to vote, the military and policemen who have no right to vote, and those who are deprived of their right to vote because they were sentenced. The number of those voters is estimated at two millions, and so the actual number of those who have the right to vote and living in Syria is 8,817,821.

The number of the people who have the electoral card is 7/181,206, and so the number of voters who voted 4,556,475 voters.

In all cases, the percentage of the voters is 63.45 %, it is a high percentage and reflects the zeal of the voters to exercise their right to vote.

The number of the balloting centers in the electoral constituencies 10383 distributed among the electoral constituencies as follows: If compared with the number of the electoral centers of the 7th Legislative Course which was 8527, it shows that the increase of the number of the centers has mounted to 1811 in this legislative course.

The number of the candidates whose candidacy was accepted in all the electoral constituencies is 10405 Candidates including 6024 candidates of the workers and farmers sector and 438 candidates of other sectors. The number of the male candidates has reached 9556 and the number of female candidates has mounted to 849 .

The number of those who have continued until the start of electing process has reached 1490 including 546 of workers and farmers sector, and 944 /of other sectors.

The winners of the People's Assembly seats were 250 members including 127 members representing the workers and farmers, and 123 members representing other sectors. The percentage of the workers and farmers is no less than 50 percent of the Assembly seats in line with the constitution.

The number of winners who are affiliated with the Progressive National Front has reached 167 including 106 of the workers and farmers sector and 61of other sectors.

The independent winners number has mounted to 83 including 35 of workers and farmers, and 48 of other sectors. The number of membership female winners has reached 30, including 22 of the workers and farmers sector, and 8 of other sectors, with an increase of 4 members if compared with their number in the previous legislative course, a thing that underlines the growing role of the woman in the Syrian society.

The People's Assembly includes members who represent all the classes of the society..workers farmers, intellectuals, lawyers, doctors, engineers, artists, and other social, economic, vocational and industrial activists, businessmen 14 industrialists 4 , lawyers 40, doctors 19,and engineers 36.

The number of the new members of the Assembly has reached 178, and so the number of those who retained their membership is 72.

The number of members who have high scientific degrees at this course is 172. The age percentage of the winners is 7 between 25-35 years, and 118 between 36-50 years, as well as 125 are 51 and above.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad telephone call with Mahateir Muhammad   (3/5/2003)
  Syrian parliamentary elections completed   (3/4/2003)
  Some 10,000 candidates for parliamentary elections in Syria on Sunday   (2/28/2003)
  Syria's National Progressive Front announces candidates for parliamentary elections   (2/19/2003)

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