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Yemenis Barely Celebrate GPC’s 40th Anniversary

General People's Congress’s Sana’a wing holds a meeting after the killing of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (Reuters)
General People's Congress’s Sana’a wing holds a meeting after the killing of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (Reuters)
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Yemenis Barely Celebrate GPC’s 40th Anniversary

General People's Congress’s Sana’a wing holds a meeting after the killing of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (Reuters)
General People's Congress’s Sana’a wing holds a meeting after the killing of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (Reuters)

Yemenis home and abroad are faintly celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of the General People's Congress (GPC), one of the largest political parties in Yemen. The reason behind this is that the GPC has faced fragmentation over the years and lost its decision-making power to Houthi militias.

Marking the occasion on August 24, GPC leaders kept exchanging cables of congratulations.

Founded by the slain Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the GPC was used as a political lever to rule the country for over three decades. This stopped at the death of Saleh on December 4, 2017, at the hands of the Houthi militia.

Many observers of Yemeni affairs believe that the party can still be a figure in shaping the country's future.

However, the GPC needs to first overcome internal divisions that have splintered the party into different wings vying for leadership.

According to Sanaa-based GPC sources, Houthi militias have barred GPC leaders from holding any form of celebration to mark the party’s 40th.

Despite banning the usual rallies, Houthis allowed GPC leaders to broadcast messages regarding the anniversary on Houthi-run media, sources revealed.

Moreover, the official statement issued by GPC leaders in Sana’a avoided mentioning Saleh and stressed that Sadiq Abu Ras is the legitimate head of the party.

Ras had previously affirmed his continued alliance with the Houthi militias.

GPC leaders in Taiz Governorate announced that they had withdrawn from holding a celebration on the occasion.

Meanwhile, some party leaders and activists contented themselves with holding a humble celebration in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The event was attended by one of Saleh's sons.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Yemeni journalist Abdullah al-Snami said that the GPC is going through its worst days since its foundation.

Snami admitted that the party hasn’t enjoyed the same influence after the death of Saleh in 2017.

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Syria Leader Signs Constitutional Declaration, Hailing 'New History'

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP
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Syria Leader Signs Constitutional Declaration, Hailing 'New History'

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa signs a new constitutional declaration, which will regulate the country's transitional period - AFP

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a "new history" for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression.

The declaration comes three months after opposition factions toppled Bashar al-Assad's repressive government, leading to calls both inside and outside the country for an inclusive new Syria that respects rights.

The new authorities repealed the Assad-era constitution and dissolved parliament.

Interim President Sharaa on Thursday said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the beginning of "a new history for Syria, where we replace oppression with justice... and suffering with mercy", as he signed the document at the presidential palace, AFP reported.

The declaration sets out a transitional period of five years, during which a "transitional justice commission" would be formed to "determine the means for accountability, establish the facts, and provide justice to victims and survivors" of the former government's misdeeds.

The declaration enshrines "women's right to participate in work and education, and have all their social, political and economic rights guaranteed", said Abdul Hamid al-Awak, a member of the committee that drafted the declaration.

It maintains the requirement that the president of the republic must be a Muslim, with Islamic jurisprudence set out as "the main source" of legislation.

It also stipulates the "absolute separation of powers", Awak said, pointing to toppled president Assad's "encroachment" on other branches of government.

It gives the president a sole exceptional power: declaring a state of emergency.

Awak added that the people's assembly, a third of which will be appointed by the president, would be tasked with drafting all legislation.

A supreme electoral committee would be formed to oversee the election of members of the legislature.

- Cannot be impeached -

Under the declaration, the legislature cannot impeach the president, nor can the president dismiss any lawmakers.

Executive power would also be restricted to the president in the transitional period, Awak said, pointing to the need for "rapid action to confront any difficulties".

He added that the declaration also guarantees the "freedom of opinion, expression and the press".

The declaration affirms the independence of the judiciary and prohibits "the establishment of extraordinary courts", under which many Syrians suffered for decades, Awak said.

He said a committee would be formed to draft a new permanent constitution.

The declaration becomes effective as soon as it is officially published.

In late January, Sharaa promised a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a "legal reference" during the transitional period.

He then announced in early March the formation of a committee to draft the declaration that included two women.

That announcement came "based on the Syrian people's aspirations in building their state based on the rule of law, and building on the outcomes of the Syrian national dialogue conference", the presidency said at the time.

Sharaa was appointed interim president in late January.