Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad said “it’s time to work” shortly after announcement he was reelected for a fourth term.

“At the end of the electoral process and the beginning of the work stage, thanks to all Syrians for their high patriotism and their remarkable participation in this national entitlement,” he was quoted as saying on his Telegram channel, SANA news agency reported.

“Mercy for the souls of our martyrs, recovery for our wounded and greetings to the men of our heroic Syrian Arab Army.”

“For the sake of all their sacrifices, for the future of Syria’s children and youth, let us start tomorrow work to bolster the hope of building Syria as it should be,” President Assad said late Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, Speaker of the People’s Assembly Hammouda Sabbagh announced victory of Bashar Al-Assad in the presidential election, having the majority of votes with 95.1%.

“Dr. Bashar Al-Assad gained 13.540.860 votes with 95.1% out of the total correct votes,” Speaker Sabbagh said at a press conference.

Sabbagh added that the number of voters who have the right to cast their votes inside and outside Syria reached 18.107.109, while the number of those who cast their votes inside and outside the country reached 14.239.140 with 78.64%.

The Speaker went on to say that the second candidate Mahmoud Marei gained 470.276 votes with 3.3%, while Abdallah Salloum Abdallah gained 213.968 votes with 1.5 %.

Source: Agencies