Syrian elections will have ‘no credibility’ – FCO

The regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad announced on Monday that elections would take place on 3 June. Parliamentary speaker Mohamed Jihad al-Laham said requests for nomination would be accepted until 1 May and that Syrians outside the country would be able to vote at Syrian embassies on May 28.

But the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office immediately dismissed the elections, saying they were only designed to “sustain his (Assad’s) dictatorship”.

Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds said: “They (the elections) will be conducted against the backdrop of non-stop regime attacks on civilians, hundreds of thousands living under regime siege in horrendous conditions, and in a climate of fear where thousands of non-violent opponents to Assad have been detained or have disappeared.

Elections conducted on this basis fall far short of any international standard, and their outcome will have no value or credibility. Mark Simmonds

“Millions of Syrians who have been displaced from their homes, or who live as refugees outside Syria, will be prevented from voting.

“Syria’s new electoral law rules out any genuine opposition to Assad.”

The British government supports a “transitional” process which would see Assad removed from power, through talks in Geneva.

Mr Simmonds continued: “Elections conducted on this basis fall far short of any international standard, and their outcome will have no value or credibility.

“The UK strongly endorses the democratic and pluralist vision put forward by the Syrian National Coalition, and we recognise the Geneva II political process as the proper place for the Syrian parties to negotiate political and constitutional transition.

“The Syrian regime must re-engage with this process, rather than undermine it.”

‘State of denial’

The election announcement comes the day after footage was released of Assad visiting an ancient Christian town, recently recaptured by government forces.

Monzer Akbik of the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition opposition group, said Assad does not have legitimacy now and would not have it after the election.

“This is a state of separation from reality, a state of denial,” he said. “He didn’t have any legitimacy before this theatrical election and he will not after.

“We do not know what actor he is putting up as an opponent but we are not taking this seriously.”

Assad said last week that the conflict had reached a “turning point” due to military gains against the rebels.