Syria's First Post-Assad Parliament Takes Shape Amidst Transition Challenges

Syria has officially inaugurated its first Parliament of the post-Assad era, as interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa appointed 70 lawmakers to complete the 210-member People's Assembly on Wednesday. This crucial step, which sees the new legislature convene its first session on Monday, July 6, marks a profound shift in Syrian governance after more than five decades of autocratic rule by the Assad family and over a decade of devastating civil war. The Parliament's formation, following elections for 140 members over the past eight months, signals the country's move towards establishing new legal frameworks and institutions, aiming for a more inclusive political system. The formation of this new Parliament comes nearly two years after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, an event spearheaded by al-Sharaa's then-Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces. Al-Sharaa, who assumed the interim presidency in January 2025, has since focused on consolidating power, rebuilding state institutions, and seeking international recognition for the Syrian Transitional Government, with the US and UK having delisted HTS as a terrorist organization in 2025. However, the new Parliament operates under an Interim Constitutional Framework that grants significant authority to the presidency, leading to concerns about the concentration of power and calls for broader political participation, especially given outstanding issues like the unresolved status of the predominantly Druze Sweida province and the integration of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Looking ahead, the People's Assembly has a 30-month mandate to draft a new constitution and prepare for future elections, a monumental task amid ongoing challenges such as pockets of insecurity, including recent ISIS attacks, and a dire humanitarian crisis affecting two-thirds of the population. The transitional government also faces the complex process of transitional justice and accountability for past crimes. How Syria navigates these internal divisions and secures long-term stability while engaging with a watchful international community will be the defining test of this new, post-Assad chapter.