{"id":13470,"date":"2012-02-15T12:06:33","date_gmt":"2012-02-15T17:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=13470"},"modified":"2012-02-15T12:06:33","modified_gmt":"2012-02-15T17:06:33","slug":"the-new-syrian-constitution-draft-discussed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/the-new-syrian-constitution-draft-discussed\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Syrian Constitution Draft Discussed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0The New Syrian Constitution Draft<\/a> has some important changes which are discussed below in the form of a debate between friends that has been copied from an email discussion.<\/p>\n

Article 8 Removed<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article 8 was the most contested article of the 1973 constitution. It states that the Baath Party must be the leader of both society and the state.<\/p>\n

The Parliament must include at least 50% workers and farmers, whose defining characteristics will be define.<\/p>\n

The quota established for 50% workers and peasants in the parliament was added in a deal with the Baath Party leadership in order to get article 8 removed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friend 1 writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I expected, the parliament, or majlis al shaab, is now the new Baath Party. Anyone who wants to run against a sitting president has to get 35 members to agree to write his name. Who can be a member of the majlis? Now the majlis al shaab has become the next God who will decide who can become a president and half by law are workers and farmers… Good stuff.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another friends responds:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am surprised you are not acknowledging and celebrating these two accomplishments, and are instead nitpicking on the mechanism of how a president is nominated…. Every country has specific rules. Look at the electoral college in the US…..”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Friend 1 writes:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

So Bashar thinks that no Syrian who has lived outside the country for 10 years prior to putting his name is good enough to be president? Shame. Burhan Ghalioun is out. Anyone who wants to become a President cannot have duel citizenship.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another friends responds<\/strong><\/p>\n

As for the 10 year living in Syria condition, you need to remember how paranoid we are about foreign intervention. This paranoia is not exactly without any basis. We don’t want a Saad Hariri to be dropped from among the Syrians living in Saudi Arabia with 3 billion dollars to spend on his campaign.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Friend 1 writes:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh, so its OK for the Baath to drop the 3 billion? why? Because they are inside and hence more wataniyeen (nationalist)?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A friend Writes: <\/strong><\/p>\n

As for the 10 year living in Syria condition, you need to remember how paranoid we are about foreign intervention. This paranoia is not exactly without any basis. We dont want a Saad Hariri to be dropped from among the Syrians living in Saudi Arabia with 3 billion dollars to spend on his campaign.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Article 3 stays<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

It is the article that states the President must be a Muslim.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A friend Writes: <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
I think there are big items that should be looked at, removing article 8, dropping socialism from the constitution \u00a0.. etc. This is a big country with 23 million people from different \u00a0ethnic and political background, no draft will ever satisfy all. And when I think of the hard liners who never wanted to give an inch … They had written a constitution to secure their monopoly on power….<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
A friend Writes: <\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
The Baath party will be subjected to the same constraints regarding upper limits on spending like any other party.\u00a0 Members of parliament will be elected by the people, there will be many independents and many members of new parties … 35 is not such an impossible requirement. It just says that you will not have 50 candidates but perhaps 3 or 4.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Friend 1 writes:<\/strong><\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
<\/strong>I read the new constitution twice. Bashar will effectively be the president till 2028.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
A friend Writes: <\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
He is not interested beyond 2021 and he is aware that he might not be able to govern beyond 2014. I think we all should celebrate a mile stone. Those who oppose Bashar should now work through the system to defeat him in 2014.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
A friend Writes: <\/strong><\/div>\n
\n

“your focus was on article 8 you always said they won’t remove it. They did ! You cared about the economy and how state monopoly and subsidies are destroying the country, they removed socialism from the constitution!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Friend 1 writes:<\/strong>
\n1- socialism is gone. Yes. I am happy. But names are not enough. In one article they talk about supporting both public and private sectors.
\n1- ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ????? ??????
\n– ???? ?????? ????? ???????? ??????????? ????? ??????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ????????? ?????????? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ??????.
\nstaying on economics, if the constitution would prevent monopolies, Cham Holding and Syriatel and all other monopolies-duopolies-oligopolies must be dismantled. They are here protecting producers and consumers (possible?). Surely by protecting local producers, you are harming consumers and vice-versa.2- Article 8 is gone. Yes, I am happy. But look at the replacement. We moved into the Mubarak model. The people supposedly choose the members of majlis al shaab. Why have the majlis al shaab pick a candidate for president? This is where the Lebanese are. We are advancing to their level. Are you happy with that?<\/p>\n

3- ????? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????
\n?? ???? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ????????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ????????? ??????.
\nThis means that no one with a dual citizenship can get involved in anything. Why? Am i not watani (patriotic) if i have another passport? None of the talented Syrians with dual nationalities will be able to help this country ever. On top of that:
\n– ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???????.
\nAgain, the Baath has destroyed this country’s economy and sent many Syrians outside. Now, none can ever dream of becoming a president unless they stayed there. Why? We claim we are secular. Syrian Christians excluded of course from the highest office. The Islamists would be angry? So? we fight them everywhere but yield on this?<\/p>\n

4- – ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ??? ????? ???.
\nThe separation of executive and legislative sides is over right here. The President also picks them and they stay for 4 years while he stays for 7. He is always in control therefore.
\nMoreover,
\n?? ??? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????.<\/p>\n

5-???? ????????? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??????<\/p>\n

BUT:<\/p>\n

6- ???? ???? ??????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???????.<\/p>\n

7-????? ???? ????????? ???? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?<\/p>\n

THE ABOVE IS A FURTHER ILLUSTRATION OF LITTLE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE SIDES.<\/p>\n

8- ?? ???? ????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????.
\nOnce this passes, no one can change till next 18 months which means after the summer of 2014, when the current term of the president ends.<\/p>\n

How do we know he will run again?<\/p>\n

9- ????? ??? ????? ???? ????????? ?????? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? \/ 88 \/ ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????.<\/p>\n

10- Article 88 is back to 40 years old and is where all other 4 points need to be satisfied<\/p>\n

This fine gentleman has repeated many of my points<\/a> and more. (from al-Iqtisad)<\/div>\n

???? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????????? ?? ????:
\n1- ?? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ?? ????.
\n2- ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ????????.
\n3- ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???????.
\n4- ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ?????.
\n5- ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???????.<\/p>\n

????? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ???? :
\n1 \u2013 ?? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ?? ???? .
\n2 \u2013 ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ???????? .
\n3 \u2013 ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ??????? ? ???????? ? ??? ????? ???? ???? ? ?? ?? ???? ??????? .
\n4 \u2013 ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ????? .
\n5 \u2013 ?? ???? ?????? ?? ????????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? .
\n?????? ??????? ? ????????
\n???? ??????? ????? ???? ????????? ??? ????? :
\n1 \u2013 ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????? .
\n2 \u2013 ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??????? ????????? ?????? ? ???? ?? ??? ??? ? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? .
\n3 \u2013 ?? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ????? .
\n4 \u2013 ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ????????? ?????? ? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? .
\n5 \u2013 ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? .<\/p>\n

?????? ??????
\n1 \u2013 ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ? ????? ? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? .
\n2 \u2013 ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ? ???????? ? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ? ??????.<\/p>\n

????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

(?? ???) ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????????? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??????? (????). ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??????? ?? “?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ????????<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0The New Syrian Constitution Draft has some important changes which are discussed below in the form of a debate between friends that has been copied from an email discussion. Article 8 Removed Article 8 was the most contested article of the 1973 constitution. It states that the Baath Party must be the leader of both […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reform","category-syria-revolution-2011"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe New Syrian Constitution Draft Discussed - Syria Comment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/the-new-syrian-constitution-draft-discussed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The New Syrian Constitution Draft Discussed - Syria Comment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00a0The New Syrian Constitution Draft has some important changes which are discussed below in the form of a debate between friends that has been copied from an email discussion. 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