Syria’s interim president. Ahmad al-Sharaa, has named the final 70 lawmakers to the country’s new post-Assad parliament, according to the BBC and NBC News. The 210-member People’s Assembly will serve during the transitional period and begin its work on Monday, with a 30-month term to draft laws and prepare for future elections.

Representation in the New Parliament

Fifteen of the new lawmakers are women, raising the total number of female members in the assembly to 22, according to BBC. This is a notable increase from the first electoral phase in October, when only six women were elected. The 70 appointees also include 13 individuals who were imprisoned under Bashar al-Assad’s rule, which ended in 2024, and representatives from all 14 Syrian provinces. Two of the appointees hail from Suweida, a predominantly Druze province that has been outside state control since sectarian violence in July 2024 killed 1,700 people.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmed, the chairman of the Higher Committee for the Syrian People’s Assembly Elections, stated the appointments reflect “the voice of sacrifice and the voice of experience” and aim to address the imbalance in representation seen in earlier elections. He highlighted that the new members include relatives of martyrs, survivors of detention and chemical attacks, as well as academics, professionals, and community leaders known for their integrity and public service.

Electoral Process and Political Transition

The initial phase of the parliamentary elections took place in October, with two-thirds of the 210 seats elected by regional electoral colleges. The remaining third was to be appointed by the interim president. In October, only 10 minority candidates were elected, and no vote was held in Suweida or northeast Syria, which was under Kurdish control until government forces regained the area in early 2024 following deadly clashes. A vote in northeast Syria was conducted in May 2024.

Al-Ahmed said the electoral committee plans to hold a vote in Suweida “when conditions become suitable,” though no date has been set. Two representatives from Suweida were included in the 70 appointments announced by al-Sharaa. The new parliament will also draft a new election law and lay the groundwork for future elections, according to NBC News.

Transition and Recovery

According to NBC News, the new parliament marks a step forward for Syria as it works to recover from the 13-year civil war that killed around half a million people and ended with an offensive in December 2024 led by al-Sharaa’s former group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The country had been without a parliament since the fall of the Assad family’s rule.

Notable appointees include the actress Rouzaina Lazkani, according to Syria TV. Al-Ahmed emphasized the importance of national unity and representation across Syria’s diverse population, including religious and ethnic minorities. The new assembly is expected to begin its legislative work soon and serve as a key body during the country’s political transition.