Syria says yes’ to Bashar al-Assad today
Today, more than nine million Syrians who are eligible to vote will take part in the national referendum on Lt. Gen. Bashar al- Assad nomination for the post of president.
Results of the referendum will be announced in the special session of the People's Assembly (parliament) to be held tomorrow.
Meantime, Syria's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass said the taking oath ceremony will be on July 17.
Balloting stations were opened as of 7 a.m. early in the morning ( Damascus Time) in various Syrian provinces. Polling centers in the military units of the Syrian army and also in the units of the Internal security forces ( police) were organizaed to enable them to cast their votes while being at work
Syrian embassies abroad will be also open for the Syria communities in all countries where they do exist.
The Syrian ministry of the Interior said that the final number of the balloting boxes are 11185 including 600 for the ministry of defense and 60 for the internal security forces, 988 for the city of Damascus, 247 for the foreign ministry while balloting stations in Lebanon are 55 where the Syrians can vote.
The voting process will continue until 7 p.m. ( Damascus local times).
The continued flow of citizens might result in extending the referendum until 10 p.m. when the balloting boxes will be sealed and then the votes will be selected and sent to the ministry of the Interior where the result will be announced on Monday after midnight.
The official result of the referendum will be announced at Tuesday's special meeting of the parliament.
Some 9.442 million Syrians who are at the voting age are expected to take part in the referendum as the ministry of the Interior has set a precondition for the one who wants to vote to be " 18 year-old on January 1st, 2000 and not be forbidden from political and civil rights."
The second part says that after the referendum, according to Tlass, lt. gen. will take his oath as a president of the Republic before the Syrian parliament on July 17 and then ( on July 17) that date means that 37th days had passed since the death of the late President. And on this Tlass commented during this period the authority has been moving smoothly to Dr. Bashar. Regards. Tomader
In statements he made on Sunday, the Syrian minister of defense Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass said that Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad will after announcing the results take the constitutional oath before the parliament on July 17 and thereby the authority in Syria. The new president is the only side authorized to decide the date for the taking oath ceremony. The late President Hafez al-Assad took the constitutional oath for the presidency on February 11, 1999.
The Syrian defense minister said in his statement that Lt. Gen. al-Assad "proceeds the same steps made by his father. But on the economic issues we will see a real push forward within months and in well-studied and programmed steps."
During the two past days Damascus witnessed massive people's show of support voicing backing to Lt. Gen. al-Assad. The Ummayad's square in Damascus ( a great landmark in the city) witnessed on Sunday evening a huge rally during which Arabian coffee and tea were served while classic music was played an a huge screen showing the late President in many activities.
On Saturday the parties of the National Progressive Front released a statement saying that in the name of its political parties and people's forces these parties will assign Lt. Gen. Bashar to carry out the mission of leading the country.
