Serdar Berdymukhamedov, the son of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has confirmed he will join the Turkmenistan presidential election set for March 12, Reuters reported on Monday, citing Turkmen news website Salamnews.

President Berdymukhamedov, 64, announced on the weekend that he would not seek another term and called for an early election.

His 40-year-old son, who is currently the deputy prime minister, is widely expected to succeed his father as president.