The formation of Syria’s first parliament since the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime marks a significant milestone. The interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced the selection of 70 legislators as part of the new 210-member legislature, which is set to convene for its inaugural session on Monday.
Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, head of Syria’s electoral committee, informed reporters about this development. The first session will involve members being sworn in and electing the Parliament’s presidential council.
Among the new legislators chosen by al-Sharaa, 15 are women, increasing the female representation to 22 members in the legislature. The move towards inclusivity represents a step forward for the nation as it attempts to recover from years of autocratic rule and conflict.
Syria embarked on its parliamentary elections last October, excluding the southern province of Sweida due to opposition from local Druze gunmen. The northeast region, under Kurdish control at the time, also did not participate. However, a vote in northeast Syria took place in May after government forces regained control following violent clashes.
No specific date has been set for elections in Sweida, yet two representatives for the Druze-dominated area were included in the list released by al-Sharaa.
The newly established Parliament is slated for a 30-month term. It will focus on drafting a new elections law and preparing for a popular vote in forthcoming elections, according to al-Ahmad.
The country has been without a legislative body since December 2024, following an offensive led by al-Sharaa’s now dissolved Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. This offensive brought an end to the Assad family’s five-decade rule.
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