Syria held parliamentary elections on Monday amid a continuing economic slide after 13 years of civil war and further protests against President Bashar Al Assad in the southern province of Suweida.
Elections to the 250-member People's Assembly, held every four years, are seen mainly as an indicator of power shifts among political players in a system dominated by the Assad family since 1970.
The largely loyalist legislature has been controlled by the president's Baath party since a 1963 coup. Mr Al Assad succeeded his father, the late Hafez Al Assad, in 2000.
This year’s poll was marked by a boycott in Suweida, a province near the border with Jordan which is largely inhabited by members of the Druze minority.
Suhail Theiban, a prominent civil figure in Suweida, said a man in his 70s was severely wounded in the main square of Suweida city after security forces opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest against the election.
The man was a bystander who was hit when intelligence personnel opened fire from a nearby security compound, Mr Theiban, who was at the demonstration, told The National.
He said the protest continued and security forces withdrew armoured vehicles stationed near the square.
"The elections boycott has been widespread. The people of Suweida recognise that this regime has destroyed the country," he said.
Security forces have largely avoided direct fire on the protesters in Suweida, who have been holding demonstrations demanding the removal of Mr Al Assad since August last year.
The parliamentary election is seen as an important tool to project political legitimacy in the system where all the power is in the hands of Mr Al Assad and his inner circle, foremost among them his brother Maher, who heads the core of the Praetorian Guards.
The "Syrian state, always and forever, respects constitutional obligations", Prime Minister Hussein Arnous was quoted as saying by official media on Monday.
He said Syria was on the verge of a reconstruction phase and that the new parliament would have “huge tasks” in this regard.
Syria's economy and infrastructure have been devastated by the civil war that began in 2011 after the security forces, dominated by members of the President's Alawite sect, suppressed a peaceful, pro-democracy protest movement. The violent crackdown sparked an armed revolt spearheaded by members of the majority Sunni sect.
The country has fragmented into zones dominated variously by Iran, Russia, Turkey and the US, although the balance has tilted in favour of Moscow. Russia's military intervention in 2015 returned large areas of territory to the control of Mr Al Assad's forces and to the Iranian-backed militias that have been crucial to his survival.
Since 2011, new figures have entered parliament from among profiteers and operators of illegal activities associated with the war, such as protection rackets and the smuggling of people and goods, as well as figures associated with Iran and Russia.
The authorities have kept in place decades-long regulations that de facto reserve two thirds of the seats for candidates of the Baath party and the National Progressive Front, a largely moribund constellation of loyalist political groups headed by the Baathists.
A report by Jusoor Centre for Studies, an anti-Assad Syrian think tank based in Istanbul, said the authorities have allowed more members of the old moneyed classes to stand in the current elections, in contrast to the new class of business people who have entered politics in the past decade.
People directly connected to pro-regime militias also appear to be running this time, the centre said in a report.
The general economic picture, however, has been deteriorating, despite the reducing isolation of the regime since resumption of ties with most Arab countries last year.
According to a report by the World Bank published in May, Syria’s economy contracted by 84 per cent between 2010 and 2023. It is expected to contract 1.2 per cent this year, compared with 1.5 per cent in 2023, the report said.
Inflation is expected to rise to 99.7 per cent this year, compared with 92.3 per cent in 2023, it said.
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Launched: 2014
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THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes.
Where to stay
The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
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First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
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A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
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The name blends two words rupee and payment
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Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
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How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
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Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
