The new Syrian parliament has finally taken shape, more than a year and a half after the fall of Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
The parliament will convene for its first session on Monday, announced Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, head of the Supreme Committee for People's Assembly Elections, at a press conference in Damascus.
The new People's Assembly comprises 210 seats. Two-thirds of the members had already been selected by regional electoral bodies in October, and the remaining 70 were announced on Wednesday. There were no direct public elections to the parliament.
Sunni and conservative Sunni forces, as well as tribal leaders, emerged as the strongest forces, while the representation of women and minorities remains low.
It was previously stated that interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa would address these imbalances through the appointment of the remaining 70 lawmakers.
According to al-Ahmad, the lawmakers appointed by al-Sharaa include relatives of those killed in the war, former prisoners, survivors of chemical weapons attacks, as well as academics, professionals, representatives of various occupational groups, and public figures. The aim is to represent Syria's diverse social groups and strengthen national unity.
Female representation remains low however: there are 15 women among the lawmakers appointed by al-Sharaa. This brings the total number of women in the Syrian parliament to 22.
