Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Light of the Alawites...
has decreed to hold a referendum for a new constitution on February 26, the official SANA state news agency reported on Wednesday.
| Don't we have a Supreme Court justice we can lend out for the effort? |
Syrian state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
said the new constitution would allow the "people to govern the people" under a new multi-party democratic system.
It said that under the proposed text, freedom is "a sacred right" and that any violation of personal freedom is considered a crime punishable by law.
On Sunday, a commission tasked with drawing up a new constitution submitted a draft charter to Assad, SANA reported, adding he would review it and send it to the People's Assembly before a vote.
In January, Assad said a new constitution was being drawn up by a committee set up in October to replace the current one, which enshrines his Baath party's dominant role.
At the time, he said it could be put to a popular vote as early as March, although that date for the ballot has now been brought forward.
Syria's government lifted a state of emergency in April last year and in July adopted a law allowing a multi-party political system.