Syria's newly formed transitional parliament convened its first session on Sunday in Damascus, marking the legislature's inaugural meeting since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad 19 months ago.
Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and electoral commission chief Mohamed Taha al-Ahmed attended as members took a collective oath and assumed their seats with parliamentary immunity. Al-Sharaa, a former HTS fighter now serving as transitional president, described the body as "a platform for truth and justice". Osama al-Assaf, the oldest member, chaired the session and opened nominations for speaker, drawing three candidates.
The 210-seat council includes 140 members selected by regional electoral boards in October 2025 and 70 appointed by al-Sharaa. Of the 206 members present, four seats remained vacant — one due to a member's death and three unfilled from Suwayda province. The assembly includes 21 women, 15 of them presidential appointees, alongside representation for Kurds, Christians, and Alawites.