Key facts
- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 lawmakers to a transitional parliament.
- The 210-member legislature will hold its first meeting on Monday.
- The parliament's term is 30 months, renewable, and it will work on a new elections law.
- The appointments included 15 women, increasing female representation in the legislature.
- The selection of representatives for Sweida province was postponed due to ongoing clashes.
Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed 70 lawmakers to a transitional parliament, a move signaling progress in establishing new governance structures after the 2024 ousting of Bashar al-Assad. The 210-member People's Assembly is scheduled to convene next Monday, with its members to be sworn in and a presidential council elected.
The appointments, which include 15 women to raise female representation to 21, aim to address perceived imbalances in the legislative body. However, the selection of representatives for Sweida province has been postponed due to ongoing clashes and instability. The new parliament will operate under a presidential ruling system and is tasked with drafting laws, including a new elections law, during its 30-month term.
Syria had been without a parliament since the December 2024 offensive that ended the Assad family's rule. The head of Syria’s electoral committee stated that the parliament will be able to propose and approve laws until a permanent constitution is adopted and new elections are organized.