Syria's ruling National Progressive Front cruised to victory Thursday in parliamentary elections in which the only challenge came from independents. The front, which is dominated by the Baath party led by President Bashar al-Assad, took 172 seats, five more than the 167 reserved for it under the constitution, according to official results announced by Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majid.
According to AFP, the other 78 seats up for grabs in the two-day elections went to independents.
In the outgoing parliament, the front held only its minimum reserved quota of 167 seats.
Abdel Majid said turnout reached 56.12 percent of registered voters. He added that of the nearly 12 million Syrians of voting age, a little over 7.4 million had registered and nearly 4.16 million turned out.
"The new People's Assembly includes 180 new members and 70 who have been relected," he said, adding that there were also 30 women members of the new parliament.
Prime Minister Naji Otri won re-election in the second city of Aleppo. In the capital, leading businessman Mohammed Hamcho won election as did moderate Islamist Mohammed Habash.
The average age of the winners is as follows:
- 29 winners between 30-40 years of age.
- 83 winners between 40-50 years of age
- 81 winners between 50-60 years of age
- 46 winners winners between 60-70 years of age
- 11 winners above 70
