Syria's Transitional Parliament
Syria's Transitional Parliament Holds Inaugural Session in Damascus, Launching 30-Month Path to New Constitution
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Key Points
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Three seats representing Suwayda governorate remained vacant because elections could not be held there, with one Idlib seat also absent due to the death of a member, highlighting ongoing regional representation gaps in the new assembly.
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The remainder of the parliament seats were filled in October by 6,000 people chosen by authorities, after the initial indirect selection process, reflecting a mixed-path approach to legitimizing the legislature during the transition.
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Kurdish representation is a point of contention: nine Kurdish lawmakers were elected from northeast Syria (Rojava), while only a handful of Kurds are among presidential appointees, drawing comments from Kurdish stakeholders about proportionality.
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The inaugural session included an explicit leadership process: lawmakers were to elect a speaker, two deputy speakers, and a secretary, with the session chaired by the oldest member until leadership is selected, and bylaws were to be adopted within one month.
Syria's new transitional parliament held its first session in Damascus on Sunday, nearly 19 months after rebels led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad Newsmax. The 210-member assembly was sworn in to guide a 30-month transition that includes drafting a new constitution and reviewing presidential decrees.
Al-Sharaa called on lawmakers to build a "modern, law-based state" as the body took over from the dissolved Assad-era rubber-stamp parliament South China Morning Post. The session marks the first time Syria has had a functioning legislature since the regime's fall in December 2024.
How the 210-Seat Assembly Was Put Together
Two-thirds of the seats were filled through an indirect selection process. About 6,000 people chosen by authorities picked those members in October Charlotte Observer. Al-Sharaa then appointed the remaining one-third directly, giving him significant influence over the body's makeup.
The session opened with the oldest member chairing proceedings. Lawmakers were then tasked with electing a speaker, two deputy speakers, and a secretary. The assembly must also adopt its bylaws within one month and form committees to handle legislation and oversight work Newsmax.
Kurdish Seats and Regional Gaps Fuel Representation Debate
Nine Kurdish lawmakers were elected from northeast Syria, the region also known as Rojava Charlotte Observer. But only a handful of Kurds appear among al-Sharaa's appointed seats. Kurdish stakeholders have raised concerns about whether their community's share of seats matches their share of Syria's population.
Three seats from Suwayda governorate, a Druze-majority province in southern Syria, remain vacant because elections could not be held there. One seat from Idlib is also empty after a member died. These gaps highlight how fragile and uneven the process still is across the country Froggy Web.
UN Calls Session a Milestone, But Powers Remain Limited
The United Nations welcomed the inaugural session. Claudio Cordone, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, described it as "an important milestone" in the country's political process SANA. The body is meant to serve as a check on executive power during the transition period.
Still, the parliament's powers are limited. Analysts see that as a test of al-Sharaa's willingness to share power Newsmax. The assembly will operate until a permanent constitution is adopted and new elections are held — a timeline that could stretch well beyond the initial 30-month window.
Syria's Shift Toward Pluralism Remains a Work in Progress
Syria's old parliament was dissolved after Assad's fall in December 2024 South China Morning Post. The new assembly is designed to be more representative, but critics say the mixed selection process — part elected, part appointed — limits its democratic legitimacy from the start.
Observers say the session is a significant but contested step. Debates over the balance of power, ethnic inclusion, and the limits of transitional governance are far from settled. How the assembly handles its first votes and committee appointments will signal how much real authority it actually holds Charlotte Observer.
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