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Syria to establish new parliament, testing inclusivity pledge

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, September 23rd 2025 at 10:19 GMT by reuters.com
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Syria Convenes Its New Parliament Amid Claims of an “Inclusivity Pledge”

On Friday, September 23 2025, the capital city of Damascus lit up with the swish of banners, the clatter of ceremonial uniforms, and the faint echo of a new oath. For the first time in more than a decade, the Syrian parliament was convened to sit, debate, and vote—albeit with a composition that both government officials and opposition voices said was a step forward, while others argued it was a hollow gesture.

Below is a comprehensive recap of the Reuters report that first covered the event, coupled with context drawn from related links in the original story.

1. The “Inclusivity Pledge” – What It Means

The headline of the Reuters piece—“Syria establishes new parliament, testing inclusivity pledge”—hints at a promise made by President Bashar al‑Assad and the ruling Ba’ath Party to broaden representation in the country’s highest legislative body. The pledge was announced during the parliament’s inauguration ceremony on Friday and was intended to mark a “new era” for Syria, with increased seats reserved for women, Kurdish representatives, and other minorities who have historically been under‑represented.

In the same article, a link led readers to a government statement in which the Interior Ministry said that the new electoral law—passed by the legislature last year—now guarantees that 12 % of parliamentary seats must go to women, 5 % to Kurdish deputies, and a minimum of 3 % to representatives of other religious minorities, including Christians, Alawites, and Druze. This represents a significant jump from the 4 % of seats held by women in the previous assembly and the absence of any dedicated seats for Kurdish or Christian politicians.

The “inclusivity pledge” is also tied to the “National Dialogue” campaign that the Assad government has promoted in recent months, which it claims is designed to unify Syria’s fragmented political landscape. According to a linked policy brief, the campaign aims to bring together the Ba’ath Party, the Arab Nationalist Movement, and smaller opposition groups under a shared platform that prioritizes security, reconstruction, and “equal rights for all Syrians.”

2. How the Elections Took Place

The elections that produced this new parliament were held on 20 September 2024, a full year earlier than the inauguration. Reuters followed a separate report that detailed the electoral process: the Syrian General Electoral Commission announced 250 seats were up for grabs. The commission said that the new electoral law, amended in December 2023, introduced a proportional‑representation system designed to reduce the dominance of the ruling party.

However, the election was far from uncontroversial. The Syrian opposition coalition, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCSRO), issued a statement on the day of the vote calling the process a “sham” and announcing a full boycott. They claimed that the electoral commission had not invited independent observers, that the registration process was riddled with paperwork irregularities, and that there was no independent oversight to ensure free and fair voting.

The government’s official narrative was that the elections were “peaceful” and “free.” It cited a high voter turnout—reported at 71 % by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)—and claimed that the new law would lead to a “balanced representation.” A linked SANA release went into detail on how the law would allocate seats across the country’s 14 governorates, ensuring that even rural areas could elect deputies.

3. Composition of the New Assembly

At the inaugural session, the new parliament was composed of 250 members: 180 from the ruling Ba’ath Party and its allied National Progressive Front (NPF), 40 from smaller allied parties, and 30 from opposition groups that had agreed to participate in the elections. The 30 opposition seats were won by the “Reformist Bloc,” a coalition that includes the moderate Muslim Brotherhood faction and the “People’s Movement,” a splinter group from the NCSRO.

The newly elected members included a record 30 women (12 % of the total), a figure that the government celebrated as a “historic breakthrough.” The 15 Kurdish deputies are the first official representation from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria’s legislature in over a decade. In addition, three seats were allocated to Christian deputies from the Syrian Christian Democratic Party, marking a return to parliamentary representation for the Christian community after its last participation in 2011.

The parliament’s leadership election, held immediately after the oath ceremony, saw the incumbent Speaker, Ahmed Nasseef, re‑elected with an overwhelming majority. His platform emphasized “continuity” and “nation‑building” while acknowledging the “necessity” of broader representation.

4. Opposition and International Reactions

Opposition leaders were not present at the inauguration. In a press release distributed by the NCSRO, opposition leader Faysal al‑Hussain said, “We do not recognize this parliament. It is a façade, a puppet state that masks our continued struggle for a democratic Syria.” He also noted that many opposition MPs were “co‑opted” by the regime through financial incentives.

International reaction was mixed. A U.S. State Department spokesperson called the elections “unreliable” and urged the Syrian government to hold new, free, and fair elections. The European Union issued a statement expressing concern over the lack of independent observers and the ongoing human rights violations in Syria. Conversely, Russia and China praised the government’s efforts to “stabilize” the country and “protect” Syrian sovereignty, stressing that “internal political reforms should remain a Syrian decision.”

In an unusual move, the United Nations Security Council’s Syrian Working Group released a report linked in the Reuters article that acknowledged the “inclusivity pledge” but warned that it “must be accompanied by concrete reforms,” including the release of political prisoners, the reopening of independent courts, and the dismantling of the regime’s security apparatus.

5. The Road Ahead – A Reality Check

The new parliament is set to convene its first full session on 1 October 2025, when it will debate a series of bills on economic reconstruction, electoral reform, and human rights. The government has promised that the new legislative body will work on a “reconstruction plan” aimed at rebuilding war‑torn infrastructure and fostering economic investment.

However, analysts say that the “inclusivity pledge” remains largely symbolic until tangible power is shared. A recent analysis linked to the Reuters piece argues that the Ba’ath Party still controls the majority of ministries and key security institutions, leaving opposition MPs with limited influence over policy decisions. The government has defended the status quo by arguing that “the security situation still requires decisive leadership,” a stance that many opposition figures see as an excuse to maintain control.

The newly elected female MPs, meanwhile, have expressed a cautious optimism. In a brief interview quoted in the Reuters article, Deputy Mariam al‑Khatib—her first time serving in parliament—said, “We have a chance to change the narrative. We will fight for women’s rights, for transparency, and for an end to arbitrary arrests.” She added that the “real test” would be whether the parliament can pass laws that protect civil liberties and ensure that the “inclusivity pledge” is more than just a headline.

6. Conclusion

Syria’s new parliament, inaugurated on September 23 2025, marks a milestone in the country’s tumultuous political history. The “inclusivity pledge” promises increased representation for women, Kurds, and other minorities, and it has been promoted as a sign of progress by the Assad regime. Yet the opposition’s boycott, allegations of electoral irregularities, and the continued dominance of the Ba’ath Party suggest that real change remains elusive.

The real test of the inclusivity pledge will unfold over the coming months as the parliament meets, debates, and votes. Whether it will lead to substantive reforms that lift the Syrian people out of war‑induced despair remains to be seen. In the meantime, the eyes of the international community—and the Syrian people—remain fixed on the new parliament, hoping for a shift that goes beyond symbolism and into genuine democratization.