Syrian parliamentary election, 1961

The Syrian parliamentary elections of 1961 were the first free democratic elections in Syria after the Syrian Republic of the United Arab Republic ( 1958-1961 ) broke away again. The election took place on 1 and 2 December in the year. It was also the last free and democratic election in the Syrian history.

• 2.1 fractions

• 3.1 Participation
• 3.2 Results

Preparations

On October 29, 1961, the Electoral Act of 1949 was restored and by Parliament Decree no. 56 modified. The basic commission of the 1949 Act remained in force: each Syrian citizen over the age of 18 has the right to choose; a Abgeordneder for every 30,000 voters; separate representation for non-Muslims and Bedouin tribes. Some of the more important changes was the award of the electoral rights of women - in addition to the right to vote, which was established in 1949 assured. December 1st was targeted as election day. The electoral law also stipulierte that the vote should be extended to 2 December, if at the closing of the polls on December 1, less than 51 % of the voters have cast their votes. The deadline for the nomination of candidates was determined for 22 November. The constituencies were adjusted for a total of 172 seats. The total number of candidates was found on election night with 1,876, including 11 women.

Transitional government

The government decided that ministers, who acted as candidates in the elections, should resign from their posts in the Cabinet. Accordingly, the following cancellation Minister was on November 18 announced: Léon Zamariya (finance and remuneration), Farhan al - Dschandali (health), Fuad al - Adil (Labour and Social Affairs ) and Said al - Sayyed ( agrarian reform ). In addition, Prime Minister al - Maamun Kuzbari also resigned and handed over on 20 November his post to the Deputy Prime Minister Izzat al - Nouss (Minister of Education ). Dr. al - Nouss, the new prime minister, said in a policy statement to the transitional character of his government, whose main task of holding the elections was "to their scheduled Termint and an atmosphere of neutrality, indivisibility and trust ."

Three days before the official campaign began, gave the army command issued a statement in which she assured her neutrality in the elections. The statement also testified that several candidates falsely posing as nominations from the army.

Campaign regulations

The duration for the campaign period was determined by between 22 November and 29 November. The regulations were aimed at the assertion of complete freedom: There was a ban during the election period to anything that could harm the security of the army or the public safety. Propaganda on TV and the radio was forbidden. Publications of electoral material in the press had to be monitored by independent committees in each province.

Electioneering

Although the official election campaign was opened on 22 November, an election atmosphere was previously apparent. Officially allowed propaganda was very limited. Each candidate was allowed to make only one statement of 65 lines, which was adopted by the Election Committee - in the morning and evening newspapers.

Fractions

On election night there were two main factions: conservatives on the right, who demanded the abolition of the socialist measures that were enacted during the Union, and leftists who wanted their retention. On the other hand, all the groups wanted a democratic competition. The leading Lebanese newspaper al- Jareeda foresaw a conservative victory in Damascus, mainly because of disagreement between the rivals. Hama and Homs seemed to be the left -inclined, mainly because of their sensitivity to the problems of farmers. In the Kurdish al -Jazeera and the Druze mountains of the family factor and the clan membership was crucial.

The election was held on December 1. It took place in an orderly way and in a peaceful atmosphere. In most constituencies more than 51% of the electorate was by the close of polls on December 1 cast their vote; in the remaining constituencies, the polling stations opened at 5:00 on 2 December. The election of the Assembly was secret; Voters were given a blank envelope and a white ballot and voted on in the privacy of cabins.

Participation

There were no official results, but estimates put the number of eligible voters on 1000000-1250000 fixed. According to the Syrian Ministry of Interior varied participation in the various constituencies 48-84 %, " a number that has not been achieved in Syria before." In the capital Damascus, voter turnout was 46 %.

Results

At the time of elections, all political parties were officially disbanded. Therefore, it was only independent candidates or non-party lists, and the results were interpreted on the basis of party affiliation and right versus left tendencies.

It was generally believed that the results were a victory for the political right. The success of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was "extremely right" considered, and the "anti -Nasser " elements also fell on. According to the party affiliation, the People's Party strongest faction, which also attracted many remained independent; the National Party and the Baath Party followed. At the first meeting of the Assembly on 12 December, she chose Maamun al - Kuzbari by 114 votes to the Speaker of Parliament and on 14 December Nazem Koudsi, Chairman of the People's Party, with a majority of 153 votes to the President of the Republic.

Bibliography

• Yitzhak Oron (ed.): Middle East record. Volume 2: 1961st The Moshe Dayan Center, Jerusalem 1967. ( Online at: books.google.com )
• Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz, Christof Hartmann ( eds.): Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook. Volume 1: Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Oxford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0 - 19-924958 -X. ( online at: books.google.com )