Makhlouf: Decree No.216 embodies the will of Syrians

The Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Hussein Makhlouf, said that Decree No..216, which was issued by President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday setting the 18th of next September as the date for electing members of local councils, embodies the will of every Syrian citizen to hold the elections on time. He stressed that everyone is called to make this national merit a success by choosing energies, cadres and competencies to develop a comprehensive service development plan for the next four years.

During a telephone conversation with Syrian TV Channel, Makhlouf said: We all know that the will of every Syrian citizen is to hold the elections on time, and this is enshrined in Decree 216 after four years of the work of the current local councils.

Makhlouf stressed that the local community and citizens are concerned with the success of this important entitlement through the candidacy of competencies and cadres who see themselves as capable of development and service and have the willingness and vision to do so, and the desire of citizens to exercise the right and duty to elect the most qualified and worthy to lead the local work.

Makhlouf pointed out that the elections process is being conducted under the full supervision of the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections. There are sub-judicial committees at the governorate level and nomination committees that receive candidacy applications. The ministries concerned with the electoral process, “Justice, Interior and Local Administration”, have taken the necessary measures and all the requirements for logistical support for the process.

He noted that this date will be an important national entitlement for Syria, which we hope will constitute a qualitative leap in improving the level of services for citizens and the advancement of local communities in the development and service fields through the election of new local councils that lead local action in the next stage and follow the development and renaissance process with the participation of local community in each province.

Inas Abdulkareem