Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Wednesday finalized the appointment of 70 lawmakers to the country's transitional parliament, the first such body since the ousting of Bashar Assad in 2024. The appointments set the stage for the People's Assembly to convene its first session on Monday, more than eight months after the process of forming it began.
Composition of the New Parliament
The 210-member chamber includes two-thirds of lawmakers chosen by regional electoral colleges last year, with the remaining third appointed by Sharaa. Among the appointees are 15 women, raising the total number of female lawmakers to 21 after only six were selected in the earlier process. Officials did not specify how many appointees belong to religious or ethnic minorities.
Mohamed Taha Al-Ahmed, head of the Higher Judicial Committee for Parliamentary Elections, announced the names during a news conference. He confirmed that the selection of lawmakers for the predominantly Druze province of Sweida had been postponed until conditions become suitable. The area has remained outside state control since clashes last July between government forces and Druze fighters, which left about 1,700 people dead, according to the United Nations.
Limited Powers Under Presidential System
The parliament operates under a presidential ruling system established by Sharaa, who ousted Assad in 2024. A temporary constitution introduced in March 2025 grants the assembly limited powers. There is no requirement for the government to win a parliamentary vote of confidence. The assembly can propose and approve laws, and its term is 30 months, renewable. It holds legislative authority until a permanent constitution is adopted and elections are held.
The formation of the new parliament has been seen as a test of Sharaa's promises of political inclusivity in post-Assad Syria. Ten of the seats chosen last year went to members of religious and ethnic minorities, including Kurds, Christians, and Alawites—the sect to which Assad belongs. Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda commander, is a member of Syria's Sunni Muslim majority.
Criticism and Concerns
Critics, including some Syrian political figures and civil society groups, argue that the electoral framework concentrates influence over the legislature in the presidency. In a joint position paper, a coalition of Syrian rights organizations warned that the process risks undermining parliamentary independence and political pluralism. They called for broader political participation, stronger safeguards for judicial independence and electoral oversight, and greater representation of women and Syria's diverse communities.
United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone told the Security Council last week that the delay in forming the parliament was “generating anxiety.” Officials have defended the selection system, saying years of war left millions displaced and made it impossible to rely on accurate population records or voter rolls for nationwide elections.
The overthrow of Assad ended more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by his family, during which parliament was seen as little more than a rubber stamp. The new assembly's first session is scheduled for Monday.
