Presidential elections to be held in Syria today

Presidential elections will be held in the Syrian Arab Republic today. Incumbent President Bashar al-Assad is the favorite in the polls, Report informs, citing TASS.

Interior Minister Mohammad Rahmoun said at a press conference in Damascus that more than 18 million voters would participate in the elections. Voting will be held in 12,102 polling stations. Polling stations will open at 07:00 local time and work until 19:00.

Rahmon noted that the authorities, taking into account the threat of coronavirus infection, have taken the necessary sanitary and preventive measures in advance: "Everything has been done for the convenience of citizens, so all they have to do is to follow the social distance and use protective masks."

Three candidates are vying for the presidency: Bashar al-Assad, Socialist MP Abdullah Sallum Abdullah, and opposition leader Mahmoud Ahmad Marei.

In Syria, the term of office of the president is seven years.