No observer would deny that what Syria and its people need most right now is calm and stability. After nearly 10 years of war, millions of Syrians have been displaced.
The UN estimates that the unrest in this major Arab country has led to the asylum of more than 6 million Syrians in some 125 countries. The majority are concentrated in the Arab region and the neighborhood. They account for about 9% of the world’s total refugees.
These refugees and displaced persons continue to experience suffering beyond the pale. This raises multiple questions in light of the recent presidential elections in Syria, which were opposed by many international powers for various reasons.
Aside from debates about the circumstances of these elections, and the position of the Syrian people at home and abroad, the reality is that the presence of President Bashar Al Assad, his role in the current phase, and rooting out the remnants of terrorism from Syrian territory may prove to be a necessity for the future of this sister Arab country, at least for some.
This is so, whether President Assad seeks to assert his legitimacy through these elections, or to acquire newfound legitimacy to lead Syria in the next phase. Some have accused a portion of the Syrian voters who lined up in front of the electoral commissions of being Stockholm syndrome victims.
Others considered them “voiceless” and “prisoners of fear. ”But none of them understand that these voters, all the Syrian people, have the right to dream of a return to security across the country, regardless of the standards of the world around them and its assessment of what has happened in their country in recent years.
The Syrian president may have sought to convince the world that there is some sort of stability in Syria, or at least in the government-controlled areas. Whether that’s true or not, second-guessing the impact of these elections may not be in the best interest of Syria, both the state and the people.
Talking about regime change or not giving it political and constitutional legitimacy at this time dredges up all aspects of the Syrian crisis from day one. It is not about the legitimacy of the fait accompli, nor is it about overlooking the mistakes of this regime or its role in the turmoil.
But those who want to find realistic ways out of the Syria tunnel must think calmly and rationally, away from the international positions that brought nothing to Syria and its people for a decade. We must also keep in mind the interest of the millions of Syrians in the shelters and displacement areas.
Perhaps President Assad has gained real or “sham” legitimacy through these elections, or maybe it is all just “smoke and mirrors,” as his opponents say. However, we must remember that he was president of Syria before the elections. Things have not changed.
Therefore, there is no need to belabour this point, which has not changed anything on the ground, despite the political and strategic dimensions. It is necessary to move forward along the tracks of Syria’s return to its Arab fold and regional role.
Perhaps the key lesson from the experience of the chaos that has gripped the Arab region since 2011 is: the state remains the greatest bulwark against anarcho-terrorist organizations and movements.
With the collapse of the state rise radical organizations and groups to lay hands on the gains of societies, the manifestations of which everyone still observes in several Arab countries today. I don’t want to sound like a supporter of the Syrian president. But I will not just reject or recognize the regime or even coexist with it.
I have tunnel vision about the future of Syria, state and people. The country needs to regain its position as an active player in its regional environment. This is key to reinstating the pillars of security and stability.
I believe that simply holding elections, regardless of any political and organizational dimension, is a token of some measure of security and stability and Syria’s recovery from an uncertain future.
