Syria to hold presidential election denounced by US
Syria's upcoming presidential election is widely seen as foregone conclusion keeping President Bashar al-Assad in office.
Syria will hold a presidential election on May 26, a contest that critics have denounced as a charade aimed at handing President Bashar al-Assad another seven-year term.
Candidates can begin registering on Monday, parliament speaker Hamouda Sabbagh announced. Those seeking the highest office must also get the backing of at least 35 members of the parliament, where Assad’s Baath Party holds a majority.
Presidential candidates must have lived in Syria continuously for the last 10 years, a requirement that prevents members of the Syrian opposition in exile from running.
The United States and other Western governments say the presidential election — the result of which is seen as a forgone conclusion — won’t validate Assad’s grip on power.
