New Syrian parliament meets for first time

DAMASCUS: ​Syria's new parliament convened for the first ​time on Sunday, 19 months after President Ahmed al Sharaa toppled Bashar al Assad, a milestone in the country's political transition despite the chamber's current limited powers. Sharaa, in a speech at parliament in Damascus, told lawmakers to 'make this council a model of responsibility and competence' and described it as 'a platform for truth and justice'. 'Syria is writing a glorious history that reflects its heroism, and we face ⁠the responsibility of building both the nation and the individual,' he said.
Under the ‌country's interim governing arrangements, two-thirds of the members of the ​210-seat chamber were chosen last year ⁠by regional electoral colleges, while Sharaa named the remaining third on July 1. Officials have ​said this system was necessary because ‌years of war had left millions displaced and made it impossible to rely on accurate population records or voter rolls.
A temporary constitutional declaration introduced in 2025 granted parliament limited authorities, and there is no requirement for the government to win a parliamentary vote of confidence. The Assembly can propose and approve laws. It has a 30-month term that is renewable, and it assumes legislative authority until ‌a permanent constitution is adopted and elections are organised. — Reuters