No indications for convening of  first parliamentary session in Syria today

Attention has been turning to the Syrian Parliament, which was expected to hold its first session on Sunday, June 8, according to media reports and multiple sources over recent weeks. However, the early hours of the day passed without any official announcement or practical indicators suggesting the imminent convening of the opening session.

The Syrian interim government had completed the selection of parliamentary members from most provinces in recent periods, including Hasakah Governorate, through a mechanism based on local electoral bodies and electoral committees. However, a number of seats are still pending completion.

The uncertainty surrounding the date of the first session comes at a time when the interim government has not yet announced the names of members expected to be appointed under the presidential quota of 70 seats, which constitutes one-third of the 210-member parliament.

In addition, three seats allocated to the Sweida Governorate remain vacant, raising questions about the readiness of the parliament to officially begin its work.

The interim electoral system, approved by the authorities in August 2025, stipulates the selection of 140 members through electoral bodies formed in the provinces, compared to 70 members appointed by the head of the interim government in Syria. This mechanism has sparked widespread debate among political and civil forces regarding the level of popular representation and the mechanisms of forming the legislative authority during the transitional phase.

In the absence of any official statement setting the date of the inaugural session or clarifying the reasons for its delay, expectations continue regarding the next steps to complete the formation of the council, especially as the parliament is expected to assume legislative duties.

The formation mechanism of the parliament has faced criticism from political parties and societal forces in several Syrian regions, including Kurdish, Syriac, and Armenian groups, who argue that the adopted representation does not adequately reflect the country’s political and demographic diversity. Meanwhile, the authorities maintain that the current mechanism is imposed by the “transitional phase and the exceptional circumstances Syria is going through.”

As of the time this report was prepared, no official invitations have been issued to parliamentary members for the first session, nor has the transitional leadership announced a new date for its convening. This leaves the fate of the inaugural session open pending further official clarification in the coming hours or days.

A-H 

ANHA