Damascus has postponed the first session of Syria’s new transitional parliament, state television reported, citing an electoral official. The announcement said the convening of the first session of the People’s Assembly had been delayed to a date to be determined later, without specifying why.

The delay came days after Syrian authorities had announced the inaugural meeting would take place on Monday. Syria’s new leadership dissolved the previous rubber-stamp legislature after Bashar al-Assad was removed in December 2024 and later set a five-year transitional framework through a temporary constitution signed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Work to form the new parliament began in October, when local committees appointed by the electoral commission started selecting two-thirds of the 210 members, with President al-Sharaa to appoint the remaining third. The president appointed 70 members this week.

The process still faced gaps in Suwayda province in the south after violence there last year; officials said selection in Suwayda would be held when conditions were “appropriate.” In the north and northeast, elections were completed after authorities in Damascus assumed control of those areas and reached arrangements for integrating Kurdish institutions into the state.