Syrian People's Assembly elections next few days

Preparations for Syria's People's Assembly elections are underway, covering all Syrian provinces. In Damascus one can see pictures of the candidates hung on the city's main streets and its ancient markets with each candidate's work plan pledging to improve the country economically.

In statements to ArabicNews.com, chairman of the Federation of the Syrian Chambers of Agriculture Omar al-Shalet, a candidate in the elections for the National Progressive Front (which comprises nine parties) for Damascus countryside, said: "What we are witnessing is a huge national festivity and an expression of democracy."

He added that his program is to gain support for the Syrian agricultural sector, which he said is the backbone of the national economy. In a similar statement, Omar Ghaibour, an anchor at Damascus radio and an independent candidate for the 7th PA legislative term, said, "I have nominated myself in the list of Workers and Peasants Group A for Damascus countryside. Hopefully, if I win, I will spare no efforts to service the citizen and the homeland."

Emil Anini, independent candidate for Damascus countryside, said his program is to strengthen Syria's exportation policy through getting Syrian goods "involved in international markets through hindering all impeding problems."

Independent candidate Suad Jumaa, a journalist who works for SANA, said her program is to defend causes of her nation and country and to "bravely back means of sorting out citizens' affairs in the areas of culture, service and economics."

Mrs. Nawal al-Sheikh from Qatana, Damascus countryside, said, "I will elect the candidate who will commit himself to bettering the country." She hoped that the 7th legislative session will be more effective in support of public sector employees. While Mrs. Fatin Karraz from Damascus countryside said, "The number of candidates for the elections is so big, reflecting the extent of people's interest in taking part in their democratic legislative institution."

The Interior Ministry in Syria has declared that the central committees at the Syrian provinces completed assigning polling stations and station committees. The number of polling stations in all electoral constituencies reached 8,498 distributed as follows: Damascus City Circle 772, Damascus countryside center 626, Aleppo City Circle 696, Aleppo Rural constituency 898, Homs constituency center 826, Hama constituency 675, Idleb constituency 625, Lattakia circle 639, Tartous circle 590, Deir ezz Zour circles 450, Hassaka circle 638, Raqqa circle 319, Draa circle 271, Sweida circle 263 and Quneitra circle 121.

Supervising those constituencies are 8,498 polling committees. The number of candidates for the 7th legislative term of the People's Assembly election in Syria on November 30 are 7,364, running for 250 seats.

The Syrian news agency, SANA, said that the regional leadership of the Baath Arab Socialist Party (BASP) issued a statement on Wednesday in Damascus on the occasion of the elections for the 7th term of the People's Assembly. The statement said the PA is one of the main characteristics of "the freedom and democracy march, which materialized one of the basic chapters of the Baath Party, namely unity, liberty and socialism." It said the Baath Party has always underlined the organic correction between political, social and economic independence, and each individual's liberty on the one hand and the liberty of the community, country and nation, on the other hand.

The statement talked about Syria's great and diversified development, including the remarkable successes achieved in the fields of national economy, food security, promotion of industrial production, and all forms of social services. The statement went on that, "The Syrian people strongly believe in the present people's democracy which mainly depends on political and economic pluralism."

The statement hailed the people's mounting awareness of the "great significance of the democratic experience now being lived by Syria under President al-Assad." The statement also indicated that fulfilling the role of election and selection of PA candidates in a democratic atmosphere is the "right of every citizen."

The statement concluded by saying: "The achievement of democratic objectives demands an all-out public participation in the election in favor of those candidates of the Progressive National Front or other independents. All are urged to fulfill such national task on November 30."

The first session of the Syrian PA was convened in 1972, in parallel with the release of the charter of the National Progressive Front and its constituent. This Front comprises "progressive parties and forces," rallied under the ruling Baath Arab Socialist party.

As of its fifth legislative session, the members of the PA numbered 250, up from 195 during the fourth legislative session. The number of seats dedicated to women was 21 instead of 18. The Syrian PA includes representatives of the People's Organizations and vocational trade unions. Peasants and workers comprise 51% of the PA's total members in addition to representatives of the National Progressive Front's nine parties.

The 250 PA members are distributed on some 11 committees covering works of "constitutional and legislative affairs, the budget, statistics and financial laws; the Arab and foreign affairs and expatriates committee, the planning, production and services, the national security, the Interior and local administration committees, the committee on irrigation and agriculture and the complaints committee."