Referendum tomorrow on fifth presidential term for al-Assad
Syria, Politics, 2/9/1999

The Syrian people this morning headed to the polls in order to cast their votes for the election of President Hafez al-Assad for a fifth constitutional term.

Al-Assad is running unopposed as Syria is run based on a party system that is dominated by the ruling Baath Party which plays the critical role in the selection process of candidates. The Syrian voter thus has the choice of accepting or rejecting the choice at the ballot box.

The number of balloting centers is 11,143 distributed in all the country's cities, towns, villages and ministries as well as in Lebanon and the Syrian diplomatic missions abroad to enable Syrian citizens residing abroad to exercise their right to vote.

The Syrian Ministry of the Interior has taken all necessary measures to enable citizens to exercise their right of voting in an atmosphere of freedom and security.

In a statement to SANA, Minister of the Interior Muhammad Harba said that every Syrian Arab citizen, male or female, who was 18 years old or over at the beginning of 1999 can exercise his or her right to vote.

Meanwhile, the reaction by citizens and officials from different walks of life to the election was similar:
Chairwoman of the General Federation of Woman, Mrs. Suad Bakkour, told ArabicNews.com that she and all women in Syria will say "yes" to President al-Assad who "made the women's cause a vital and important cause."
Chairman of the Damascus Executive Bureau, Nazeer Qamha, told ArabicNews.com: "Yes and a thousand yeses for the nomination of President al-Assad, who is working hard to achieve legitimate Arab ambitions. Yes for the distinguished leader who represents an embodiment of the people's aspirations: dignity and pride."

Editor in chief of the "Sports Weekly" issued in Damascus, Hassan al-Buni, said the benefits of the president's leadership have covered all walks of life. He added regarding sports, "His excellency has provided this sector with all possible needs, gigantic sports cities have been built in the country's provinces, foremost the Lattakia sports city, where the tenth Mediterranean Games were held in 1987, honoring the brilliant athletes and countless benefits for sports and chess, which has a prominent place in the Arab world and indeed all over the world."

Muhammad al-Nasouri, director of the information minister's office, told ArabicNews.com that nominating President al-Assad for a new constitutional term means highlighting his great achievements: "foremost of which being the permanent constitution, national unity, freedom, democracy, security, stability and economic pluralism, an all-out expansion in social services and ensuring food security are among those achievements."

Muhammad Kahdour, a director of the Syrian tv, said he will say "yes" to President Hafez al-Assad for the "realized security and internal and external stability as well as national unity in the country." He added: "I will say yes to the President's nomination because al-Assad led the nation's victories and built the people's organizations and the vocational unions, and gathered the country's parties in the Progressive National Front."

Damascene household Sahar al-Lahham told ArabicNews.com she will vote "yes" for the President because of the "President's nomination to a new constitutional term underlining the splendor and significance of his contributions for the people, and women in particular throughout the years of constant struggle."

She added that the "yes" for the nomination of the President, which the country's women will say on February 10 is actually yes for the "leader who scored victory, corrected the path of the Baath Party and embodied the aspiration of the Arab nation."

Damascene engineer Salem al-Zeen said he will say "yes" to "al-Assad's piercing insight and wisdom." Syrian engineers, he added, will say yes to the President who by means of his steadfastness, struggle and victories, knew how to defend the homeland.

Previous Stories:
  Syria announces mourning on King Hussein's death, postpones referendum   (2/8/1999)
  Bashar al-Assad asserts readiness to take any responsibility given to him   (2/5/1999)
  Cook describes Syrian-British relations as good   (2/2/1999)
  Balloting centers in Lebanon for referendum on al-Assad's reelection   (1/25/1999)

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