Syria's first parliament after the fall of Bashar al-Assad has been formed, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa releasing a list of 70 appointed legislators. The new 210-member legislature marks a step toward drafting laws as the country recovers from decades of iron-fist rule and a devastating civil war.

The inauguration on Wednesday signals progress in Syria's transition, following the ouster of Assad in December 2024 after more than 13 years of conflict that killed approximately half a million people. The interim president directly appoints one-third of the parliamentary seats.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, head of Syria's electoral committee, told reporters the new parliament will hold its first session on Monday, when members will be sworn in and a presidential council elected. The body will serve a 30-month term and work on a new elections law.

The president's list includes 15 women, raising the total number of female lawmakers to 22. The parliament also includes representatives of the Alawite community and two legislators from the southern province of Suwayda, which was excluded from October's first-phase elections due to security concerns.

The October vote also excluded Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria, where elections were held in May after government forces regained control. Al Jazeera's Obaida Hitto reported that initially few minority representatives were elected; the president's appointments remedied this by adding several Kurdish members from Hasakah governorate.

The new parliament is expected to prepare the ground for popular elections in the next vote, serving as a test for the country's transition. The 30-month term will focus on drafting legislation and electoral reforms.

Source: www.aljazeera.com