Parliament appointments completed in Syria, oath session next week

The interim government in Syria is preparing to announce the names of members who will be appointed by interim government leader Ahmad al-Sharaa to parliament (the People's Assembly), amounting to 70 seats. This comes after the selection of members was completed in most Syrian provinces, with the exception of the Sweida Governorate.

This move comes as part of completing the legislative authority during the transitional period following the fall of the Baathist regime, amid ongoing debate over the method of forming parliament and the extent of its representation of various political and social groups in the country.

The Syrian parliament consists of 210 members. Of these, 140 were selected through electoral bodies formed in the provinces under an indirect electoral system, while 70 members are appointed by a decision of interim government leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. This completes the parliamentary structure in preparation for beginning its work.

According to the temporary parliamentary electoral system approved by Ahmad al-Sharaa under Decree No. 143 of 2025, no direct nationwide elections among citizens were held. Instead, the process began with the formation of subcommittees in the provinces that selected local electoral bodies, which later elected parliament members, while the final third of seats was reserved for appointment by Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The system did not rely on direct public candidacy. Competition was limited to individuals selected within the electoral bodies. Candidates were required to be Syrian citizens, at least 25 years old, legally competent, and of good conduct and reputation. Individuals linked to institutions of the former regime or military and security agencies after 2011 were excluded.

The interim government distributed 210 parliamentary seats among the provinces. Aleppo received 32 seats, Damascus 10, Rural Damascus 12, Homs, Hama, and Idlib 12 each, Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah 10 each, and Raqqa 6 seats, with varying allocations for the remaining provinces.

These distributions prompted objections from political and civil groups, especially in Kurdish regions. Twenty-four political parties and organizations condemned what they described as an attempt to reproduce policies of marginalization against Kurds through the parliamentary formation mechanism. They argued that limiting Kurdish representation to a small number of seats does not reflect demographic and political realities. Authorities, however, said that the adopted mechanism responds to the specific circumstances of the transitional period and current conditions in the country and aims to ensure broader participation of various social and regional groups.

First Parliamentary Session

Under the temporary electoral system, the first parliamentary session, known as the "oath session," will be held within three days of issuing the decree naming parliament members, expected today. The session will be called by the head of the Higher Committee, with the date announced at least three days in advance and no later than seven days from the date of the invitation.

Accordingly, the first parliamentary session is expected to begin next week.

The first session will be chaired by the oldest member of parliament, while the youngest member will serve as secretary. All members will then take the constitutional oath: "I swear by Almighty God to remain loyal to the nation, preserve the country's independence, unity, and territorial integrity, respect the constitution and the law, and carry out my duties faithfully and sincerely."

Following the oath, members will elect the Speaker of Parliament, the Deputy Speaker, and the Secretary through a secret ballot. The Speaker will then assume management of the session and parliament will begin exercising its constitutional duties. The role of the head of the Higher Committee ends at that point and they leave parliament unless they themselves are a member by appointment.

During the second session, the Speaker of Parliament will issue a public invitation to Ahmad al-Sharaa to attend and deliver a speech before parliament members. The rules also state that any member unable to attend the oath session may take the oath later in a session designated by the Speaker. If a member refuses to take the oath, their membership is automatically revoked and a replacement is appointed according to the decree.

Parliament's Duties During the Transitional Phase

The Syrian parliament is expected to undertake legislative duties, discuss public policies, oversee the performance of the interim government, approve laws regulating public life, and oversee upcoming political and constitutional processes during the transitional period.

Although the current parliament differs in its formation from the parliament during the Baathist era—which was elected through direct public voting under the dominance of the Baath Party and parties within the National Progressive Front—the current mechanism relies on electoral bodies and direct appointment of one-third of members. This has raised questions regarding the level of public representation and the limits of political participation in shaping legislative authority during the transitional period.

A-H 

ANHA