the referendum resulted in the adoption of the new constitution, which came into force on 27 february 2012. the constitution guarantees equal rights and opportunities under the law, supplemented by labor laws which guarantee equal pay and maternity benefits for women. effective power in syria rests with the president of the republic (since 2000, bashar al-assad, re–elected in 2014), who, according to §84 of the old constitution, was elected in an uncontested popular referendum on the proposal of the syrian branch of the ba'ath party. however, in accordance with the new constitution, other parties withheld an opportunity to assume presidential roles in the country, evident as of the 2014 syrian election.