Electoral System in Future Syria
By: Rouba Al-Fattal Eeckelaert
Release Date: Wednesday June 6, 2012
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The Strategic Research and Communication Centre (SRCC) is proud to present a new policy paper today as part of its Transitional Period Policies Research Program in Syria. This policy paper provides a roadmap for electoral reforms in post-Assad Syria that will be needed to set Syria on the path towards democratisation. The policy recommendations presented constitute a primary resource for the future transitional government as well as a guide for discussions by civil society groups, activist networks and international pro-democracy networks.
SRCC and Hivos have joined forces within the framework of Transition Period Policy Research and Knowledge Programme Civil Society in West Asia to produce high-quality publications on transition challenges in Syria in the fields of rule of law, political development and civic education.
Executive Summary
The future Syrian government in collaboration with activist networks and civil society groups will need to formulate an electoral system that best represents the richness and diversity of all within Syrian society, and do so in an inclusive manner that does not instigate nor ignore the sectarian and ethnic diversity of the country. The emerging system must therefore be a comprehensive one working simultaneously on political, legal, economic and social dimensions for a new electoral system that would create a new culture on the path toward democratisation.
Selection of Policy Recommendations
Some of the policy recommendations of this policy paper include:
The Syrian transition government will oversee the organization of an independent: (a) National Convention to draft a temporary election law, (b) Constitutional Committee to draft a new democratic constitution, (c) Central Elections Commission to setup and administer national elections within 12 to 18 months, (d) The newly democratically elected Parliament will then vote on the new constitution.
The system of government should be a presidential system where the president is elected independently by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term for a maximum of two terms.
The Prime Minister (PM) is the head of government in charge of forming and dissolving the cabinet, with a two-third majority approval of Parliament. The PM is nominated by the president but confirmed by Parliament.
The role of the Vice-President shall be eliminated, and the Speaker of Parliament will assume the position of President if he/she is unable to serve, until new presidential elections are held within two months.
The Syrian Central Elections Commission should guarantee independent oversight of local as well as international observers (e.g. United Nations, European Union, and NGOs), as well as independent media presence to give greater legitimacy to the results.
