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Syria's Bashar al-Assad files papers for presidential run
by Joseph Earnest April 28, 2014
Newscast Media DAMASCUS—Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had registered to run for re-election. Although he is one of seven candidates, he is widely expected to win.
The speaker of the Syrian parliament, Mohamed al-Lahham, announced on Monday that Assad had submitted the necessary paperwork to stand for president.
Lahham then read out a letter, which he said the president had submitted do parliament.
"I ...Dr. Bashar Hafez al Assad ... wish to nominate myself for the post of president of the republic, hoping that parliament will endorse it," it said.
Changes made to Syria's constitution two years ago will make this the first time that multiple candidates are being allowed to run for president. Previously, Assad and his predecessor and father, Hafez al-Assad, had had their candidacies for the job approved in referendums. In the last one, in 2007, Assad was confirmed in office with 97.6 percent of the vote.
Assad is one of seven candidates who have announced their intention to run in the June 3 election, but none of the others is seen as having a chance of unseating the president, who has been in office since 2000.
The election will only take place in parts of Syria controlled by government forces, meaning that voters in large swathes of the country held by rebel fighters will not be able to take part. Add Comments>>
Source: Deutsche Welle
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