Syria Names Final 70 Lawmakers for New Parliament Amid Transition

Mon Sep 14 2026 10:31:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The interim president appoints 70 new parliament members, including 15 women, to replace the legacy of Bashar al‑Assad.

Syria’s interim president Ahmed al‑Sharaa has finalized the 70 members of the new 210‑seat People’s Assembly, set to convene next week. The appointments include 15 women, 13 former political prisoners, and a range of academics and community leaders, reflecting a broad cross‑section of Syrian society. The move follows a January election where regional electoral colleges selected two‑thirds of seats and has drawn mixed reactions from Kurdish parties and civil‑society groups. UN officials argue the parliament is crucial for debating new laws and building confidence among all Syrians, while still grappling with unresolved security and reconciliation issues.

Mohammed Taha al‑Ahmed listening at a press conference in Damascus — Syria’s new parliament appointees include 15 women, as announced by the election official Mohammed Taha al‑Ahmed.

Syria Names Final 70 Lawmakers for Post‑Assad Parliament

Syria’s Interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa has appointed the final 70 members of the country’s new parliament, paving the way for the body’s first session next week.

Among the appointees are 15 women and 13 individuals who were imprisoned during Bashar al‑Assad’s 13‑year dictatorship. The committee also highlighted the inclusion of ‘relatives of martyrs’, survivors of detention and chemical attacks, academics, professionals, community leaders and national figures noted for their experience and integrity.

The Higher Committee for the Syrian People’s Assembly Elections, chaired by Mohammed Taha al‑Ahmed, said the choices combined “the voice of sacrifice and the voice of experience” to represent diverse segments of Syrian society and reinforce national unity.

The transition has faced criticism from Kurdish political parties, which said the electoral process in May was exclusionary, and from civil society groups, which described the system as structurally flawed. Concerns focus on the president’s ability to name one third of the parliament and replace any elected member, potentially overriding the body’s independence.

UN deputy special envoy Claudio Cordone urged that “Syria needs its people’s assembly to begin its work, and it needs all Syrians—particularly women and diverse groups—to feel meaningfully represented.” He highlighted challenges such as drafting new legislation, reviewing executive actions, and integrating former SDF brigades into government forces.

The ceasefire agreement with the SDF has seen progress, with four SDF brigades now salaried by the state and 1,300 SDF‑aligned detainees released. However, implementation of the Cordon roadmap for confidence‑building and reintegration in Suweida lags, threatening sectarian instability and calls for secession that could undermine Syria’s territorial integrity.