Assad's party expected to remain in power as Syrians vote in parliamentary poll Syrians headed to the polls on Monday to vote in their fourth parliamentary election since civil war broke out in 2011. President Bashar al-Assad's ruling Baath party, backed by its secular left-wing and Arab nationalist allies, are running virtually unopposed and are expected to remain in power. Syria's exiled opposition last week condemned the election as "absurd", with only Syrians living in government-held areas who are aged 18 and over, and holding an identity card eligible to vote.