BEIRUT, May 29 (AFP): Syria's divided rebels and their foreign backers have been watching in disbelief as the regime gears up for an election to give Bashar al-Assad another presidential mandate despite their uprising.
The vote, which the Damascus regime can hold only in territory it controls and embassies abroad, signals confidence by Assad and his allies that they will win the war.
"Two years ago, we used to think it was impossible the regime would last long enough to hold the 2014 election. I just can't believe it's going to happen," sighed Thaer, an activist from Homs city, once known as "the capital of the revolution".
"When the revolution began, we were much stronger, the movement was peaceful and massive, and our hopes were high," he told AFP via the Internet.
Now, he says, the election is a new signal that Syria's revolt has escalated into a proxy war, "in which the Syrian people are paying the highest price."
A rebel commander in Damascus province agreed.
He said the reason the regime is able to hold its vote is because of the opposition's endemic division, a lack of leadership, and a failure by the international community to make good its promises to the revolt.
"The international community is not merely paralysed... The truth is it doesn't actually want to help," said Selim Hejazi, echoing the opposition's belief that while Assad has all the help he needs, the so-called Friends of Syria who back the revolt have been more self-interested.
Syria opposition powerless as Assad holds election
FE Team | Published: May 30, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like