Syria’s Candidate List Grows to Six; “Squeaker” not Predicted

The list of candidates vying for Syria’s presidency in next month’s election has grown to 6 with the addition of 4 more, but there is no indication that incumbent Bashar Al-Assad is losing any sleep over the outcome. Assad formally announced his own candidacy for a third term only on Monday with the government portraying the election as the solution to the civil war, now in its fourth year. According to the government, if Assad wins, the people will have spoken and the fighting should end. If he loses, Assad will step aside according to the government. Despite the dismissal of the election by opponents of the regime, the government has promised “free and transparent” balloting.  A 51-year old mechanical engineer from Latakia is the only woman in the race.