The Higher Electoral Commission in Syria announced today the names of 119 members of the first People’s Council formed after the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad. This council features limited representation of women and minorities, and three provinces were excluded due to security concerns.
During a press conference in Damascus, spokesperson Nawar Najma explained that 119 seats were filled while 21 seats remained vacant, specifically from the provinces of Sweida, Raqqa, and Hasaka.
The council is constituted under the transitional constitutional announcement that was established following the regime’s downfall, with a term of thirty months that can be renewed. According to the new mechanism, two-thirds of the council’s members are elected by regional bodies formed by the Higher Electoral Commission, while the remaining third is appointed by Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara.
Najma pointed out that the representation of women in the council is just 4% of the elected members, with Christians securing only two out of 210 seats. Additionally, the sole Jewish candidate did not win, highlighting the disparity between the representation of various groups and their population proportions. President Shara has the opportunity to address this imbalance through his appointed third.
He further stated that “the electoral process did not involve any sectarian or ethnic quotas, and each member of the council represents the entire Syrian populace.”
The parliamentary elections commenced on Sunday morning, marking the first such event after the fall of the regime. This is part of a transitional phase lasting four years, which is extendable. During this period, the council will propose and approve laws, amend or annul previous legislation, as well as ratify the national budget and international treaties. Additionally, it will form a committee to draft a permanent constitution, which will later be presented for a public referendum when security conditions are deemed suitable.
These elections followed the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 66 of 2025 by President Ahmad al-Shara on June 13, which established the Higher Electoral Commission for the People’s Council elections.