Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has submitted his candidacy to run in upcoming presidential elections in Syria, the speaker of parliament said on Wednesday.
The elections, scheduled for May 26, are expected to give incumbent al-Assad a new term in office.
According to state-run SANA news agency, six people have submitted their nominations for the top post, among them a woman.
Faten Ali Nahar, 50, is a lawyer and is originally from the Quneitra province, but lives in the Syrian capital.
Parliament Speaker Hamouda Sabagh said that candidacy registration started on Monday and will be open for 10 days, SANA reported.
Syrians living abroad will vote on May 20, Sabagh added.
Al-Assad, who has ruled Syria since 2000, is expected to run for and win a fourth term. His father had the presidency from 1971 to 2000. Neither has allowed much dissent and both have been accused of being dictators.
In 2014, he was re-elected for a seven-year term after gaining a landslide in Syria’s first multi-candidate election.
Syria’s crisis started with peaceful pro-democracy protests in March 2011. It soon evolved into a full-blown conflict, drawing in foreign fighters and powers.