Syria Forms First Post-Assad Parliament as al-Sharaa Consolidates Power Ahead of July Session

In a recent i24NEWS English YouTube video titled "Syria forms 1st post-Assad parliament despite internal divisions," the report detailed how Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 lawmakers on July 1, 2026, to complete the 210-seat People's Assembly.

Syria Forms First Post-Assad Parliament as al-Sharaa Consolidates Power Ahead of July Session

Jerusalem, Israel – July 2026 —

Formation of the People's Assembly

On July 1, 2026, Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 members to the People's Assembly, completing a body where 140 lawmakers had already been selected through regional electoral colleges over the preceding eight months.

The full 210-member parliament operates under the constitutional declaration that al-Sharaa signed in March 2025, which established a five-year transitional period following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Among the 70 appointees, 15 were women, raising the total number of female lawmakers in the assembly to 21, since only six women had been elected through the regional colleges.

The parliament holds limited legislative powers during its 30-month term and must focus on producing a new constitution and updated election laws before the end of the transitional period.

Minority Representation Shortfalls

Only three Kurds appeared among al-Sharaa's 70 appointees, and two of those individuals are known political allies of the interim president, leaving Kurdish communities in the northeast largely excluded from the process.

Christian, Alawite, and Druze representation also stayed minimal in both the elected and appointed seats, prompting immediate criticism from community leaders in southern Syria near the Israeli Golan Heights.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces areas in the northeast were largely sidelined during the eight-month electoral college phase, with no dedicated seats allocated for autonomous administration representatives.

Analysts have labeled the overall selection method "managed democracy," noting that al-Sharaa retained direct control over one-third of the seats while the electoral colleges operated under rules set by his interim government.

Israeli and International Reactions

Israeli officials are monitoring the parliament's formation closely because of security concerns along the northeastern border, including the risk of renewed Iranian-backed militia activity inside Syria.

The Druze community in Suwayda province, located near the Israeli Golan Heights, issued statements expressing alarm over its limited representation in the new assembly and the potential impact on local autonomy arrangements.

The United States issued a statement of cautious support for the transitional process but called for genuine inclusivity measures before the July 6, 2026, session convenes.

Israeli defense assessments have highlighted the need to track any changes in Syrian military capabilities that could emerge once the People's Assembly begins debating security legislation during its 30-month term.

Power Consolidation and Transition Outlook

Critics argue that the parliament's restricted mandate allows al-Sharaa to retain dominant executive authority while the body focuses narrowly on constitutional drafting rather than immediate oversight of government ministries.

The March 2025 constitutional declaration remains the governing framework, and the new assembly must operate within its five-year transitional timeline without authority to alter the interim president's core powers.

Regional diplomats note that the July 6, 2026, opening session will serve as an early test of whether al-Sharaa fulfills earlier pledges to broaden political participation beyond his core support base.

Israeli security planners continue to assess how the parliament's composition could affect cross-border stability, particularly if minority grievances in southern Syria lead to localized unrest near the Golan Heights.

Next Steps for the Transitional Government

Once the People's Assembly meets on July 6, 2026, its first order of business will be electing a speaker and forming committees to begin work on the new constitution within the 30-month window.

Al-Sharaa's office has indicated that further appointments to state institutions will follow the parliament's convening, maintaining the interim government's control over day-to-day administration.

International observers from the United States and European capitals have scheduled follow-up meetings with Syrian representatives to evaluate progress on inclusivity commitments before the end of 2026.