May 27, 2007 (2007-05-27) 2014 → Popular vote 11,199,445 | Start date May 27, 2007 Percentage 97.62% | |
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A referendum to confirm the presidential candidate Bashar al-Assad was held in Syria on 27 May 2007, after the People's Council of Syria voted to propose the incumbent for a second term on 10 May 2007.
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Electoral system
According to the Syrian Constitution, the Arab Socialist Ba'at Party of Syria is the leader of the state and society and thus, the President should be a member of the party. The National Progressive Front, a political coalition led by the Ba'ath Party, nominated a candidate in the People's Council. The candidate had to be approved by at least two-thirds of MPs to proceed to the referendum, in which a candidate had to receive at least 50% of the vote.
Reactions
Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed claimed "This great consensus shows the political maturity of Syria and the brilliance of our democracy", while the ministry described voter turnout as "enormous".