The Damascus regime plans to hold a presidential election late next month. Candidates could register to run for ten days starting Monday, Parliament Speaker Hamuda Sabagh said Sunday, according to a report by state news agency Sana. The date for the presidential election has been set for May 26, with Syrians living abroad expected to cast their ballots as early as May 20.

President Bashar al-Assad is expected to seek a fourth term. The 55-year-old has ruled Syria since 2000.

Assad was last confirmed in office for another seven years in 2014 with a majority of 88.7 percent of the vote. Elections could only be held in the regions controlled by government troops. At the time, these regions accounted for only about 40 percent of the country's territory. Assad's victory was considered certain in advance. The regime leader had only two opposing candidates loyal to him nominated; no opposition candidates stood.

Syria has been at war for a decade. The first uprisings against Assad's rule took place in March 2011. Since then, more than half a million people have lost their lives. Some 13.4 million Syrians are estimated to have been displaced from their villages and towns and are dependent on humanitarian aid.