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Syria election campaign begins with full weight of the state behind Assad Syria election campaign begins with full weight of the state behind Assad
(35 minutes later)
Candidates have formally kicked off their campaigns for Syria's presidential election, a foregone conclusion expected to return President Bashar al-Assad to the helm of a nation devastated by three years of civil war. Candidates have formally started their campaigns for Syria's presidential election, a foregone conclusion expected to return President Bashar al-Assad to the helm of a country devastated by three years of civil war.
Billboards and posters taped to car windows touted Assad's credentials for the 3 June vote, Syria's first multi-candidate presidential election, which has nonetheless been denounced as a sham by the Syrian opposition and its western allies. Voting will only be held in areas under government control and refugees who left Syria through unofficial crossings are barred from participating. Billboards and posters taped to car windows touted Assad's credentials for the 3 June vote, Syria's first multi-candidate presidential election, which has nonetheless been denounced as a sham by the Syrian opposition and its western allies. Voting will only be held in areas under government control and refugees who left Syria through unofficial crossings are barred from participating.
In the capital's Sabaa Bahrat neighbourhood, one billboard hung "by citizens of Syria" proclaims: "We won't close our eyes until we have said yes to the ophthalmologist," a reference to Assad, an eye specialist by training,. In the capital's Sabaa Bahrat neighbourhood, one billboard hung "by citizens of Syria" read: "We won't close our eyes until we have said yes to the ophthalmologist," a reference to Assad, an eye specialist by training. "We vote for you, 2014," it adds.
"We vote for you, 2014," it adds.
Elsewhere, posters read: "Our Bashar, we will not accept a president other than you. We have chosen you, you have our loyalty."Elsewhere, posters read: "Our Bashar, we will not accept a president other than you. We have chosen you, you have our loyalty."
"I am still convinced that he was still the sole leader who can achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people," Riyadh Shahin, 44, a government employee, told the Associated Press. "In my opinion, Assad is the suitable person for this post, because without him, Syria was now divided. He is the sole guarantee to keep Syria strong." "I am still convinced that he is the sole leader who can achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people," Riyadh Shahin, 44, a government employee, told the Associated Press. "In my opinion, Assad is the suitable person for this post, because without him, Syria is divided. He is the sole guarantee to keep Syria strong."
Assad faces two other candidates in the race: Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri, both members of the so-called internal opposition tolerated by the government. Both men are relatively unknown, and neither has the full weight of the state behind him like Assad does. Assad faces two other candidates in the race: Maher Hajjar and Hassan al-Nouri, both members of the "internal opposition" tolerated by the government. Both are relatively unknown and, unlike Assad, do not have the full weight of the state behind them.
Hajjar is from Syria's second city of Aleppo, which has been devastated by fighting since 2012, and is an independent MP and former member of the Communist party.Hajjar is from Syria's second city of Aleppo, which has been devastated by fighting since 2012, and is an independent MP and former member of the Communist party.
Nuri is a Damascus businessman who was a member of the domestic opposition tolerated by Assad's government.Nuri is a Damascus businessman who was a member of the domestic opposition tolerated by Assad's government.
Both candidates had little public presence, though there were a few posters supporting Nuri call a fight against corruption as well as a free economy and the "return of the middle class". Both candidates have little public presence, though there are a few posters supporting Nouri and calling for a fight against corruption as well as a free economy and the "return of the middle class".