Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has again postponed the parliamentary elections planned for May. July 19 has been set as the new date for the vote, the presidential office in Damascus announced on Thursday. It is the third ballot since the Syrian war began nine years ago.

The election, initially scheduled for April, had already been postponed by five weeks to 20 May because of the spread of the coronavirus. The Syrian Ministry of Health has so far reported 45 corona cases, including three deaths.

Critics call elections in the war-torn country a farce, which are supposed to give the regime in Damascus a democratic touch. In the vote in 2016, which was criticised as a sham election, Assad's National Unity List won 80 percent of the votes. All 200 candidates on the list, which was formed by the Baath Party and smaller allied groups, won a seat in parliament. In total, the Chamber of Deputies has 250 members.

Voter turnout in 2016 was almost 58 percent. However, only those eligible to vote who live in areas under the control of the regime were allowed to vote. The alleged opposition boycotted the elections.