Opposition figure reveals new Russian plan regarding presidential elections
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Syrian opposition activists have recently circulated a video footage on social media in which the Syrian opposition figure Kamal al-Labwani talks about a Russian plan approved by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which includes the participation of the opposition in the upcoming presidential elections.
The plan states that some of the Syrian figures will split from the opposition and participate in the elections, and Assad will win those elections, according to al-Labwani.
The opposition will participate in the elections as a rival to Assad on the basis that they are candidates against him, but they will not win, according to what al-Labwani revealed.
He indicated that the plan also includes the Syrian opposition having a share of four ministries in the Syrian government, as a consolation prize for them.
The four ministries will be allocated to the Moscow and Cairo Platforms (two moderate opposition bodies), and two main figures in the opposition, namely, Jamal Suleiman and Khaled al-Mehamid.
Al-Labwani pointed out that the differences within the ranks of the Syrian opposition at the present time, is because of that allocation.
He stressed that the participation of these names in the presidential elections in Syria “will give legitimacy to Bashar al-Assad.”
Figures like Hadi al-Bahra, Nasr al-Hariri, Badr Jamous, Abd al-Ahad Staifu, Anas al-Abdeh and Ahmad Ramadan in addition to others from the Syrian National Coalition will “split” from the opposition to participate in the presidential elections.
“Al-Labwani’s words regarding the intention of a section of the opposition to go to participate in the elections alone, was very dangerous,” a Syrian opposition figure who preferred not to be named, told North Press.
In conjunction with al-Labwani’s words, Hadi al-Bahra, co-chair of the Constitutional Committee representing the Syrian opposition said, “Let us make this year the year of work to end the tragedy, the year of transition towards a future and peace Syria.”
Al-Bahra’s words came in a statement on the official Facebook account of the Syrian Negotiating Committee of the Syrian opposition delegation.
Commenting on what al-Bahra said, the opposition source said, “We do not know what peace al-Bahra talks about, is it the peace of the brave or of the cowards? knowing that there is no difference between them as both kinds of peace will lead the regime to remain.”
“Peace is not obtained through wishes or greeting cards, but rather it is taken from the clutches of despotic criminals,” he added.
He pointed out that the political process for 2021 “will not include anything new except to continue the play of passing time through the chorus of the Constitutional Committee. The High Negotiations Committee is the dagger that stabbed the revolution; it says one thing and does another.”
However, opposition figure Ma’moun Abu Issa told North Press, he believes that there are “many benefits from the Constitutional Committee, the most important of which is that it is formed by the United Nations, and is held in Geneva, not in Damascus.”
“It is the decision-maker in drafting the new constitution, not the council of cheerleaders, and it is the decision-maker in the referendum,” he added.
Abu Issa indicated that the Syrian government’s acceptance of sitting with the opposition delegation is “an explicit recognition of it, thus ending the Syrian regime’s monopoly on legitimacy.”
A few days ago, Syrian political opponents stressed that the Syrian opposition delegation must freeze its participation in any upcoming round of talks related to the Constitutional Committee.
They demanded deleting the term “Restorative Justice” introduced by the UN envoy Geir Pedersen, from the UN documents.