A woman from Damascus has applied to run for president of Syria, the parliament speaker said, making her the first female to make a bid for the country's top job.
The presidential election, the second since the country’s civil war broke out 10 years ago, is to be held May 26. Syrians abroad will vote on May 20.
Speaker Hammoud Sabbagh said Faten Ali Nahar, a 50-year-old Damascus resident, has nominated herself for the post. Little is known about her. The parliament speaker provided her age, place of birth and her mother’s name in the announcement, ABC News reported.
Two other candidates have submitted their names, including a businessman who ran against Assad in 2014.
Although Bashar Assad has not yet applied, he is widely expected to run and win a fourth seven-year term.
