Election mechanism aims to nominate extras: Syrian constitutional expert
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The acceptance of the applications for the Syrian presidency election by the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Syrian People’s Assembly in the current way is the play that has not ended yet, a Syrian constitutional expert, who preferred not to be named, said on Monday.
“What is happening is an extended candidate play, whose goal is to select an extras candidate as the requirement for the form of the competition,” he added.
Observers of the process of receiving candidacy applications, which numbered 23, are likely to choose one or two names by members of the People’s Assembly, in which the Baath Party controls most of its seats, to maintain the shape of the elections.
The expert, who lives in Damascus, considered the mechanism the Supreme Constitutional Court adopted to accept applications to run for the presidential elections, as contrary to the constitution.
According to Article 85/2012 of the Syrian Constitution on the nomination of the President of the Republic, the Supreme Constitutional Court cannot accept a presidential application “unless the applicant has written endorsement for his candidacy from at least 35 members of the Syrian People’s Assembly.”
On April 18, Hammoud al-Sabbagh, chairman of the Syrian People’s Assembly, announced the opening of the presidential elections from April 19 to 28, and to date, 23 candidates have submitted for the election, including three women.