Key facts
- President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 lawmakers to Syria's transitional parliament.
- The 210-member People's Assembly will hold its first session next Monday.
- The parliament will wield limited power under the presidential ruling system.
- Sharaa used nominations to address representation imbalances, including adding 15 women lawmakers.
- The selection of lawmakers for Sweida province was postponed due to ongoing clashes.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed 70 lawmakers to a transitional parliament, a move seen as a step towards fulfilling promises of political inclusivity following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The 210-member chamber is scheduled to convene next week, with two-thirds of its members having been chosen by regional electoral colleges last year.
The appointments, which include 15 women to increase female representation to 21, aim to address perceived imbalances from the previous selection process. However, the selection of lawmakers for the Sweida province has been postponed due to ongoing instability and clashes. The new parliament will operate under a presidential ruling system and will wield limited power, with a term of 30 months that is renewable.
Critics, including Syrian political figures and civil society groups, have raised concerns that the electoral framework concentrates influence over the legislature in the presidency, potentially undermining parliamentary independence and political pluralism. The United Nations has previously expressed anxiety over the delays in forming the parliament. The People's Assembly will be able to propose and approve laws until a permanent constitution is adopted and new elections are organized.