Syria’s newly elected parliament holds first session post-Assad

Syria’s People’s Assembly held its first session in Damascus on July 12, following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The session came after the new assembly was finalized under a 2026 decree naming its members, including a portion appointed by the president.

The agenda for the opening included administering the constitutional oath to assembly members, electing the speaker, two deputies, and the bureau, and establishing parliamentary committees ahead of legislative and oversight work.

The 210-member assembly is the first legislative body to convene in Syria since Assad’s fall. During the session, 206 members attended; seats related to Suwayda were left vacant because elections could not be held there, and an Idlib member was absent due to death.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the lawmakers during the opening, calling for dialogue, respect for institutions, and an orderly transition toward constitutional and legislative work.

At the same time, Syria’s new chamber comprises both elected and presidentially appointed members, with authorities describing the appointments as intended to broaden representation of expertise and experience.