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Syria’s transitional parliament began its first session Sunday in Damascus after the fall of the Assad regime, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa chairing the meeting as the new assembly prepared to take up tasks including drafting a new constitution.
State television reported that the session opened with members of the People’s Assembly, which is tasked with laying the groundwork for democracy after decades of authoritarian rule.
The first session came after a delay of about one week and was ceremonial in nature, with representatives sworn in during the meeting.
Sharaa attended the session along with Foreign Minister Assad Hasan Shaybani, Interior Minister Enes Khattab and Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wayis.
Representatives from many foreign embassies also attended the session as guests of honor.
Syria’s new authorities dissolved the country’s former legislature after longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December 2024. They also adopted a temporary constitutional declaration to cover a five-year transition period.
The assembly is made up of 210 members. In October 2025, local committees appointed by the electoral commission began selecting two-thirds of the new parliament’s members. The electoral commission had been appointed by Sharaa.
Sharaa appointed the remaining third of the assembly, 70 members, this week.
The session began Sunday with 206 members, excluding the Druze-majority Sweida province in the south and a deceased member.
Sweida has not yet designated its members following sectarian bloodshed there last year, though Sharaa appointed two representatives from the province.
The selection process was held in formerly Kurdish-run areas of northern and northeastern Syria earlier this year, after Damascus authorities assumed control there and signed a deal on integrating Kurdish institutions into the state.
Representatives were expected to elect the assembly’s presiding body later Sunday.
During its renewable 30-month mandate, the parliament is expected to undertake several tasks.
Those include forming a committee to draft the constitution, approving the budget, and proposing and amending laws.
Analysts say the assembly faces major challenges related to legislative independence and the separation of powers.
Syrians have criticized the mechanism used to form the parliament, citing the absence of direct elections and the underrepresentation of women.
Civil society organizations have also criticized the concentration of all executive power in Sharaa’s hands, amid the absence of a prime minister.
The underrepresentation of Syria’s various religious and ethnic groups has also been criticized.
In his opening remarks, Sharaa called on lawmakers to be “models of responsibility and competence” and to contribute to establishing a culture of dialogue, the rule of law and respect for institutions.
He said Syria was writing “a new chapter in its history.”
Sharaa said Syria was “writing a new history” that expresses its civilization, values and heritage, and called for opening a new page together on the path to building modern Syria.
He said everyone faces a major responsibility after years of tyranny, war and destruction.
Sharaa said the damage left on people, cities and the economy requires placing the interests of the homeland above everything else and working with the spirit of one team.
He said that after the liberation of the homeland and the restoration of freedom, Syria is now moving to a stage of deepening the state and building its institutions on the basis of responsibility and merit.
Sharaa said the state would be one where dignity is protected and will is respected.
He also said rebuilding the economy, improving the quality of services, preparing the investment environment, providing job opportunities and increasing production are national responsibilities shared by all state institutions, especially the People’s Assembly.
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