Syria Convenes New People's Assembly to Draft Constitution

The People's Assembly of Syria convened its inaugural session in Damascus on July 12, 2026, marking the first parliamentary meeting since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Ahmad al-Sharaa, the President of Syria, addressed the chamber and described the assembly as a platform for truth and justice. He urged the lawmakers to establish the council as a model of responsibility and competence.

During the session, legislators elected Abdul Hamid al-Awak, a legal scholar and former judge, as speaker with 99 votes. Mustafa Moussa and Madonna Bishara were elected as first and second deputy speakers, respectively. The 210-seat body consists of 140 members selected via regional electoral colleges and 70 appointed by al-Sharaa. Four seats remain vacant, including three from the Suwayda province due to ongoing security clashes between government forces and Druze militias.

Operating under a 2025 temporary constitutional declaration, the assembly will serve a 30-month term. Its primary mandates include proposing and approving laws and forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution. The transition has received international support, including the removal of Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Ambassadors from Türkiye and Canada characterized the session as a milestone in restoring popular sovereignty and guiding Syria's political transition.