Special parliamentary elections to the Syrian Chamber of Deputies were held in 1937 to fill seats for the new electoral districts in Latakia (including Tartus at the time) and Jabal al-Druze (Suwayda) governorates.

Background

In early September 1920, following the establishment of the French Mandate in Syria, the French divided the territories of Syria into smaller statelets. The Alawite State and Jabal Druze State were among the newly-created states. In 1936 (becoming effective in 1937), the two statelets were incorporated into the Syrian Republic as the governorates of Latakia and Jabal al-Druze. The Syrian parliamentary elections were already held in 1936, and thus there was a need to held special parliamentary elections to elect the deputies of the two newly-incorporated governorates.

Electoral system

Elections were conducted under the Syrian electoral system in force at the time, with deputies elected from territorial electoral districts. Suffrage was limited and indirect in practice, with voting heavily influenced by local notables, clan leaders, and French authorities. Electoral competition was generally weak, and in some cases seats were uncontested.

Latakia Governorate Elections in Latakia Governorate were held in 25 September and October 1937. The governorate was assigned 16 seats. The elected deputies were as follows: + Electoral district Name Religious affiliation Party Latakia Abd al-Qadir Shreiteh Sunni Ali Shihab Alawite Fayez Elias Not represented minorities Sahyun Salman al-Murshid Alawite Omar al-Bitar Sunni Masyaf Muhammad Junayd Alawite Muhammad Suleiman al-Ahmad Alawite National Bloc Muhammad Hassan Asber Alawite Janem Khaddour Alawite Tartus Mahmoud Abd al-Razzaq Sunni Muhammad al-Ismail Alawite Safita Munir al-Abbas Alawite Amin al-Raslan Alawite Jabra al-Hilu Greek Orthodox Talkalakh Shawkat al-Abbas Alawite Elias Gerges Greek Orthodox

Jabal al-Druze Governorate

Elections in Jabal al-Druze Governorate were held in 29 November and 11 December 1937. The governorate was assigned 5 seats. See also 1936 Syrian parliamentary election Alawite State Jabal Druze State

References