President Bashar al-Assad and Faten Ali Nahar, the latter is the first Syrian woman to run for this position, are among the candidates, Legislative Chief Hamoudah Sabbag announced.

According to the Syrian Constitution approved in the 2011 referendum, each candidate must obtain support of 35 of 250 legislators, so that their candidacy can be valid, while a president may only serve two seven-year terms.

President Bashar al-Assad competed in the previous elections with two candidates and won support from 88 percent of voters.

The elections will be held, according to analysts, amid military, economic and political pressure from the United States and its allies; however, Syrian authorities assure that they will do everything so that the elections are successful.

jg/iff/mem/fm/gdc