A poster depicting Syria's President Bashar al-Assad superimposed upon the national flag with text in Arabic reading "Syria's workers are with you" is seen on a window in an upper floor of the historic Hamidiyah souk (market) in the old city of Syria's capital Damascus on April 21, 2021, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
DAMASCUS – Syria's higher constitutional court on Monday approved President Bashar al-Assad''s application to run in a May 26 presidential election that he is all but certain to win.
Washington and the Syrian opposition have denounced the planned election as a farce designed to cement Assad's authoritarian rule
The court cleared two other candidates, Abdallah Saloum Abdallah and Mahmoud Ahmed Marei though Assad's run is almost guaranteed to give him a fourth term, extending his tenure well past two decades.
Assad has ruled since 2000, succeeding his father who seized power in a 1970 coup. Syria has suffered civil war since 2011, although Assad's government has re-captured most territory once held by rebels trying to topple him.
Candidates must have lived in Syria for the last 10 years, ruling out exiled opposition figures from standing. The authorities have also arrested scores of activists who have cast doubt on the legitimacy of the vote.
READ MORE: Assad applies to run in Syrian presidential election
Washington and the Syrian opposition have denounced the planned election as a farce designed to cement Assad's authoritarian rule.
Top UN officials said this month the election did not fulfil Security Council resolutions, which call for a political process to end Syria's conflict, a new constitution, and elections administered under UN supervision with the "highest standards of transparency and accountability".