The National Progressive Front, a political coalition led by the Ba'ath Party, nominated a candidate in the People's Council.

[2][4][5][6] Political opposition groups were banned unless attached to the Ba'ath Party, meaning Assad was the only candidate allowed to run.

[8][9] Critics accused Assad of rampant corruption, mass arrests against dissidents, and suppression of pro-democracy activists.

"[5] Tom Casey, American spokesman for the State Department, said "I'm sure President Assad is basking in the glow of his ability to have defeated exactly zero other candidates and continue his misrule of Syria," and that "clearly there was no real choice here for the Syrian people.

"[1][11] Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed claimed "this great consensus shows the political maturity of Syria and the brilliance of our democracy", while the ministry described voter turnout as "enormous".