From Al-Jazeera…

Syria’s parliament has unanimously nominated Bashar al-Assad, the country’s president, for a second term and set May 27 as the date for a referendum which many dissidents have condemned as undemocratic.
The referendum marks another step in a process that all but guarantees al-Assad’s hold on power for another seven years.
Mahmoud al-Abrash, parliament’s speaker, told the chamber: “The Council of the People approves the Arab Socialist Baath Party nomination of comrade in arms Bashar al-Assad for a second constitutional term and submits the decision to the citizens to vote on”.
No opposition parties are allowed in Syria and al-Assad was the only candidate.

Read the full report here…