The government in Syria has a multi-ethnic population containing Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians and Turkmens. The Syria was liberated in 1946 by France and named as the Democratic Republic with its own Constitution. Several elections were held to Parliament followed by military coups. The coup of 1963 was a threat to democracy and existing multi party system. It lasted for a long time, which is the ruling Military Junta today.
The democratic movement in Syria demanded for the termination of the ruling Military Dictatorship since 1963 and for cancellation of the old laws of the state of emergency. It also demanded for the termination of the exclusive rule of the Baath party and transfer of power of state to multi party system through free election based on principles of Liberal Democracy. Its objectives was to set up a committee for the preparation of a Democratic Constitution to live up to the international standards.
The last parliamentary election was held on 7th May 2012 and the result was announced on 15th May 2012. The Baath party won larger victory than it did in previous elections. During the 2011-12 Syrian uprising, a new constitution was put to a referendum. Amongst other changes, it abolished Article 8 which entrenched the power of the Baath party. The new Article 8 reads “the political system of the state snail be based on the principle of political pluralism and exercising power democratically through the ballot box.
The Baath party emphasizes socialism and secularism, despite its doctrine of Nation Building rather than ethnic identity. The issues of ethnic, religious and regional allegiances still remain important in Syria. These developments indicating the democratic process in the nation.
