Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has registered to stand in next month’s presidential election, which he is widely expected to win, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-lahham said on Monday.
“I, citizen Bashar Hafez al-Assad, wish to present my candidacy for the post of President of the republic,” said a letter read in Parliament by lahham. The June 3 vote will be held despite a raging war that began after a massive Government crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests that flared in March 2011.
The conflict is estimated to have killed more than 150,000 people, and large swathes of Syrian territory are now beyond the control of the Government. Assad, whose term expires on July 17, is expected to sail to victory against his competitors.
So far, six other hopefuls have announced their candidacy, most of them largely unknown.