In brief
Syria’s interim president Ahmed al‑Sharaa has named the final 70 members of a 210‑seat transitional parliament, marking a key step in the country’s post‑Assad political transition. Fifteen are women and thirteen are former political prisoners, signalling an effort to balance gender and re‑engage civil society. The appointments also include academics, experts and survivors of wartime detention, and span all fourteen Syrian provinces. The move follows criticism of election processes as exclusionary and aims to foster broader representation, though questions remain about the president’s influence over parliament and still‑ongoing sectarian tensions.
Syria’s interim president Ahmed al‑Sharaa has named the final 70 members of the country’s new 210‑seat parliament, setting the stage for the first session next week.
Fifteen of these lawmakers are women and thirteen were imprisoned during the Bashar al‑Assad regime, an effort to correct the imbalance in representation that left only six women and ten minority candidates elected in the prior round.
Appointments include relatives of martyrs, survivors of detention and chemical attacks, academics, experts, community leaders, and national figures noted for experience, integrity and public service – among them actress Rouzaina Lazkani.
Appointees come from all fourteen provinces, including two from the Druze‑majority Gulf of Suweida, whose elections have been delayed by sectarian conflict.
The process, criticised by Kurdish parties and civil‑society groups for structural flaws and presidential influence, aims to broaden inclusion and reinforce national unity as Syria moves into a transitional phase.
UN officials note that the new parliament must adopt laws, review executive actions and incorporate diverse voices, while confirming that ceasefire implementation with SDF units continues, though confidence‑building in Suweida remains stalled.
