Syrian president finalises 1st post-Assad parliament

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 2, 2026

Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa has completed the formation of the country’s first parliament since the regime change, with 210 members including appointed lawmakers and those selected by local electoral committees. This new legislature, which will begin its term on July 6 and operate under a transitional constitutional declaration, is a key part of Syria’s political restructuring following over a decade of civil war, though it faces criticism for limited minority representation and unfilled seats in conflict-affected regions.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa has finalized the formation of the country’s first parliament since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad, officials announced Wednesday. The newly established legislature is set to convene for its inaugural session on July 6.

The 210-member parliament includes 70 appointed lawmakers, among whom 15 are women and 13 were previously imprisoned under Assad’s regime. The remaining two-thirds of the legislature were selected by local electoral committees appointed by the higher electoral commission, which itself was established by Sharaa’s government.

Sharaa's Islamist-led coalition seized power in late 2024 after a prolonged civil war that lasted more than 13 years. Following the regime change, the previous parliamentary body—widely viewed as a rubber-stamp institution—was dissolved. A temporary constitutional declaration was adopted to guide governance during a five-year transitional period. This declaration stipulates that the new parliament, with a two-and-a-half-year mandate, will hold legislative authority until a permanent constitution is ratified and new elections are conducted.

The selection process for parliament began in October 2025 and involved local committees tasked by the electoral commission, which named 119 legislators in October 2026 out of an expected 140. Due to ongoing security concerns, some seats remained unfilled in certain regions, including parts of Kurdish-controlled Raqqa and Hasakeh provinces in the north and northeast, as well as the Druze-majority Sweida province in the south.

In May, representatives from the Kurdish areas were integrated into the parliament following an agreement that formally brought these territories under central government control. However, Sweida’s parliamentary seats have yet to be fully designated. To date, Sharaa has appointed two members from this province, which endured sectarian violence in July of the previous year.

Human rights organizations have criticized the parliamentary selection process, asserting that it consolidates power within Sharaa’s administration and fails to provide adequate representation for Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious minorities. Despite these critiques, the authorities maintain that the formation of this legislature marks a significant step in Syria’s political transition amid ongoing challenges.

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