Syria's First Post-Assad Parliament Begins Work

Syria’s 210‑member People’s Assembly convened its first session on Monday, marking the first parliament formed after Bashar al‑Assad’s ouster in December 2024. Interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa appointed 70 of the seats, including 15 women, bringing the total number of female legislators to 22. The remaining 140 members were elected in the October 2024 vote and a May vote in the northeast after government forces regained control.

The new legislature will serve a 30‑month term, elect a parliamentary presidential council, and draft a new elections law to prepare for future popular elections. Its composition reflects broader ethnic and sectarian representation, with Kurdish, Alawite, Druze and Christian members among the ranks. Observers note the parliament’s potential role in addressing transitional justice, curbing sectarian violence, and amending the legal framework inherited from the Assad era.

The formation follows months of delays and security‑driven postponements in the southern Suwayda province and the Kurdish‑controlled northeast, underscoring the fragile security context in which Syria seeks to transition to civilian rule.