After decades of one-man rule and over a decade of brutal civil war, Syria has officially ushered in its first parliament since Bashar al-Assad was shown the door. Yes, you read that right: a parliament. In Syria. It's a phrase that probably makes a few historians do a double-take.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa just named 70 new legislators, bringing the 210-member body to full strength. This new assembly began its legislative duties on Wednesday, marking a pretty significant pivot for a nation trying to stitch itself back together after a conflict that claimed around 500,000 lives and saw al-Assad ousted in December 2024.
New Faces, New Rules
Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, who heads Syria's electoral committee (a job that probably comes with a very sturdy desk), announced that the full parliament will convene for the first time on Monday. They'll be swearing in new members and, crucially, selecting the parliament's presidential council. Because, you know, someone has to run the meetings.
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Start Your News DetoxPresident al-Sharaa's direct appointments fill a full third of those 210 seats. His list includes 15 women, bringing the total female representation in the legislature to 22. Which, for a region not exactly known for its gender parity in politics, is a notable step.
The initial phase of parliamentary elections actually happened last October, though not everywhere. The southern province of Suwayda, a largely Druze area, was skipped due to security concerns. No word yet on when they’ll get their turn at the ballot box. Northeast Syria, previously under Kurdish control, also missed the October vote but held theirs in May after government forces took back the area.
The new parliament now includes representatives from the Alawite community and two legislators from Suwayda, thanks to the president's appointments aiming to ensure better representation for minority groups. More Kurdish members from the Hasakah governorate were also added to the mix. Because apparently, everyone gets a seat at the table now.
This new parliament will serve a 30-month term. Their to-do list? Crafting a new elections law and preparing for future popular votes. It's a process that will undoubtedly test the country's transition, but hey, at least they've got a parliament. For now.
