Syrians vote in a parliamentary election every four years. The last election was held in 2016 when the Baath Party and allies won majority in the parliament with 250 chairs. The election, however, was not recognised by the opposition, the international community and the United Nations for being illegitimate in the war-torn country.

The Baath Party has been ruling Syria since 1963. Non-members of the Baath Party were allowed to participate in the election for the first time in 2012.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday issued a decree setting Monday April 13th as the date of the elections for selecting members of the People’s Assembly for the third legislative term.

The decree also sets the number of members at 250, divided into 127 members from the workers and farmers sector and 123 from the other groups of the population, divided among 15 electoral districts, according to SANA news agency.

The election will be held at a time of escalating tensions in Idlib territory and ongoing occupation of the Turkish state and allied mercenaries in various areas of North-East Syria.