The pictures look so prosaic that you would be forgiven for thinking it was a normal country. They show Syria’s ruler, Bashar Al Assad and his wife Asma, wearing face masks, casting their ballots in parliamentary elections that took place on Sunday. On Tuesday, in a result that shocked nobody, the Baath party was declared the victor.
The elections in Syria for the country’s rubber stamp parliament took place against a backdrop of heightened despair. The coronavirus pandemic is accelerating, threatening the lives and livelihoods of a society already ravaged by nearly 10 years of war.
There are now more than 500 cases in the country, a sharp increase from a few weeks ago, including cases in Idlib, where conditions in refugee camps are ripe for an outbreak. Poverty and unemployment are rampant, and the collapse of the currency and economy in neighbouring Lebanon has had a knock-on effect on the country, hastening a protracted economic breakdown.
The recent Caesar Act, a raft of American sanctions, has ensured that no reconstruction funds are likely to flow into the economy without a political solution to the crisis, which itself is unlikely. The sanctions have yet to force the regime into any concessions, but have led to extended misery for Syrians.
And though Mr Al Assad has won the war thanks to the continuous backing of Russia and Iran, parts of the country are still outside the control of loyalist forces, and the interminable suffering of the population means there is always the risk of renewed protests.
Nevertheless, elections were held, and a leader – who presided over the dismantling of the country, the displacement of half the population, and the death of over half a million civilians because they dared challenge his rule – played his part in the charade.
The elections were supposed to act as a symbolic concession to the international community, part of a series of steps involving surface-level reforms that could have started the process of bringing Syria back into the international fold, which would eventually allow its backers to argue that the time was right to begin reconstruction and the rehabilitation of Mr Al Assad and his regime. It will not have any effect in the short term on a potential rapprochement with the regime now that the Caesar sanctions are in place and are meant to bring top regime officials to justice for wartime atrocities and to squeeze Mr Al Assad’s Iranian allies.
The elections are also an important marker of authority for Mr Al Assad, which is why they were held throughout government-controlled areas, including recently captured territory in the province of Idlib near the Turkish border. Holding the elections was a message that Syria’s president is in control and sovereign, projecting an image of normality, even though nothing is normal. His control over the country is tenuous and his international backers are the reason he remains in power.
The parliament itself of course has little in the way of real power on the ground to enact reforms or make any real difference to the lives of ordinary Syrians. Nobody can run without permission from the regime, a process that precludes the possibility of opposition members making it into the legislature.
Nevertheless, the final results will be indicative of the changing power dynamics in the country as it emerges from active warfare. Like in the previous elections, in 2016 rehabilitated militia leaders, who were unknown to the public prior to the outbreak of the revolution and civil war, are running and winning seats.
These warlords are replacing the traditional elite and communal notables that entrenched the power base of the Baath party in the past, and are reaping the rewards of their loyalty to the regime and their connections to its allies.
Neighbouring Lebanon has not had the best experience with former warlords who have blood on their hands, going on to form the core of the country’s legislature.
Finally, the new Parliament will probably preside over the ratification of Syria’s new constitution
once the ponderous UN-backed talks and negotiations over the charter are completed at some point in the future. They will also preside over Mr Al Assad's likely election next year as president.
The parliamentary elections are nothing but a sham meant to project confidence, authority and normality. But Syria is anything but normal. It is shattered by atrocities and war crimes, all because ordinary Syrians demanded dignity and called for reform. It is hard to say whether Mr Al Assad is simply going through the motions or whether he genuinely believes his own deception. I'm not sure which is worse.
Kareem Shaheen is a former Middle East correspondent based in Canada
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
HIJRA
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Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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Torque: 985Nm
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Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:
Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
FA Cup fifth round draw
Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The%20specs
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
