Syria's transitional parliament holds first session after Assad ouster

Syria's newly elected transitional parliament convened for its first session on Sunday, 18 months after the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, marking a key step in the country's political transition.

The session

The 210-member People's Assembly, with two-thirds selected by regional electoral colleges and one-third appointed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, elected Abdul Hamid al-Awak as speaker. Al-Awak, a former judge from Hassakeh province, defected from the Assad government early in the uprising Source: AP News. The session excluded the Druze-majority Sweida province, which has yet to designate members after sectarian violence Source: SCMP.

Priorities

President al-Sharaa urged lawmakers to put "national interest above all" and focus on improving the economy, strengthening public services, and attracting international investment Source: Al Jazeera. The parliament's main task is drafting a new constitution and laying groundwork for democracy within a five-year transition Source: SCMP. However, AP News states the parliament will serve a 30-month term while preparing for future elections, highlighting a discrepancy between sources on the timeline.

International reaction

Claudio Cordone, deputy UN special envoy for Syria, called the session "a key milestone" and said the international community stands ready to support the transition Source: Al Jazeera.