The Syrian Social Nationalist Party will not be represented in the new parliamentary council for the first time since 1992. The party's "historic" president, Asaad Hardan, lost in the south. This is one of the major surprises of the elections. He also lost in Koura, which was one of his strongholds, and in Baalbek-Hermel, where he used to be awarded a seat as a consolation prize.
Why did the "National" lose? Here are the main reasons:
- The party lost some of its seats to the Free Patriotic Movement, which Hezbollah provided more than one seat to. The Baalbek seat is the most prominent example.
- Internal disagreements within the party also impacted their results, as two candidates from the "National" faced each other in Koura, splitting the votes in other districts.
- The party's rhetoric needs to be reconsidered; it is often wooden, always rigid, and does not resonate with the younger generation and the "social media" audience at all.
- The blending of the "National" with Hezbollah has caused it to lose its identity. It is noteworthy that the two parties are in total contrast in terms of doctrine and principles. Ultimately, the departure of the "National" is not trivial. It will certainly reflect on the size of the party, its presence, and even its future. It must realize that clinging to Habib Chartouni does not gain votes. It needs to showcase new and, especially, younger faces. It should seek new phrases instead of distributing accusations of collaboration, treason, and Zionism.
It also must put an end to this merging with Hezbollah. The journey back to the council after four years will never be easy… Source: mtv
