Syria is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on Sunday, marking the first such vote since the fall of longtime leader Bashar Assad, who was ousted during a rebel offensive in December.

During the Assad dynasty’s 50-year rule, Syrians technically had the right to vote in regular elections. In reality, however, the Baath Party led by Assad consistently controlled parliament, and the elections were widely considered a sham.

According to outside analysts, the only genuine competition occurred before election day, during the Baath Party’s internal primaries, when members vied for positions on the party list.

Sunday’s elections, however, will not be fully democratic either. Most People’s Assembly seats will be chosen by electoral colleges within each district, while one-third of the sea

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