Syria’s New Parliament Holds First Session Since Assad’s Ouster

Syria’s newly formed parliament convened its first session in Damascus on Sunday, marking the first legislative meeting since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad 19 months ago and another milestone in the country’s political transition under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The 210-member legislature met as Syria’s transitional authorities continued efforts to rebuild state institutions after years of conflict and political upheaval. Opening the inaugural session, Sharaa called on lawmakers to prioritize accountability and public service. “Make this council a model of responsibility and competence,” he told parliament, describing the legislature as “a platform for truth and justice.” He said Syria was entering a new phase after years of war, adding: “Syria is writing a proud chapter in its history that reflects the heroism of its people, and we bear the responsibility of rebuilding both the country and its people.” Under arrangements introduced by the transitional authorities, two-thirds of the parliament’s members were selected through regional electoral councils, while Sharaa appointed the remaining one-third on July 1. Syrian authorities have said the appointment process was necessary because years of conflict, large-scale displacement and the absence of reliable population records made nationwide elections impractical. Critics, however, argue that presidential appointments give the executive significant influence over the composition and independence of the legislature. Under Syria’s temporary constitutional declaration adopted in 2025, parliament has authority to debate and pass legislation but plays a limited role in overseeing the executive branch. The interim government is not required to obtain a parliamentary vote of confidence before taking office. The transitional parliament is expected to serve for 30 months while a permanent constitution is drafted and preparations are made for nationwide elections. Lawmakers elected Abdul Halim al-Awak, a member of the committee that drafted the temporary constitutional declaration, as parliament speaker with 99 votes. Syrian authorities have said the legislature will establish a committee to prepare a permanent constitution, a central part of the country’s political transition. Women hold 21 seats in the new parliament, including 15 lawmakers appointed by the interim president. Authorities have not released official figures on the legislature’s ethnic and religious composition, although unofficial estimates indicate that representatives of Kurdish, Christian and Alawite communities are among its members. Four parliamentary seats remain vacant. One became vacant following the death of a representative, while three seats allocated to the southern province of Suwayda have yet to be filled. Officials said representatives for Suwayda would be appointed when conditions permit. The province has experienced recurring violence between government forces and Druze armed groups, delaying the completion of parliamentary representation. The first parliamentary session comes as Syria seeks to restore state institutions following the collapse of the Assad government. While the new legislature represents progress in the transitional process, questions remain over its independence, inclusiveness and its ability to oversee constitutional reforms and preparations for future national elections. The post Syria’s New Parliament Holds First Session Since Assad’s Ouster appeared first on Khaama Press.