Introduction:
In the context of the Syrian transitional phase following the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, the Syrian People’s Assembly constitutes the main legislative body in accordance with the Interim Constitutional Declaration.
The composition of the Assembly is based on a temporary indirect electoral system, which aims to ensure comprehensive representation of all components of Syrian society, while taking into account logistical challenges such as mass displacement, the destruction of civil records, and the lack of identification documents for many inside and outside Syria.
The process is overseen by the “Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections,” established by Presidential Decree No. 66 of 2025, dated June 15, 2025. It is chaired by Muhammad Taha al-Ahmad and comprises 10 members (including Hassan Ibrahim al-Daghim and Nawar Najma).
The committee is independent and includes subcommittees and auxiliary committees (legal and media). It is responsible for developing the temporary electoral system, overseeing procedures, and adjudicating appeals.
In this paper, we outline the methodology for forming the Assembly, clarifying the timeline and mechanism for transferring duties to Parliament.
Nature of the Syrian People’s Assembly:
Number of members: 210, distributed according to population density among the governorates (e.g., Aleppo: 32 seats, Damascus: 10 seats).
Members are divided into two categories:
- Notables and dignitaries (approximately 30%, for community representation).
- Educated and competent individuals (70%, for experience and skills).
Eligibility Requirements:
- Syrian nationality before May 1, 2011.
- Over 25 years of age.
- Resident of the electoral district for five consecutive years prior to 2011 (or registered there).
- Not involved in supporting the former regime or terrorist organizations.
- Not a candidate for the presidency or parliament after 2011, unless proven to have defected.
- Syrians inside and outside the country are permitted to run.
Formation Mechanism: Hybrid system (election and appointment):
- Two-thirds of the members (140 members) are elected by local electoral colleges.
- One-third of the members (70 members) are appointed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa to ensure representation of qualified and underserved regions.
Term of office: 30 months (extendable) until a permanent constitution is adopted and new elections are held.
Council Formation Methodology:
The methodology is based on Presidential Decree No. 143 of 2025 (Decree No. 143 issued on August 1, 2025) and the decisions of the Supreme Committee, and includes the following steps:
Formation of the Supreme Committee and its branches (June 15 – August 31, 2025): . 1
- Establishment of the Supreme Committee: Established by Presidential Decree No. 66 of June 15, 2025, it includes 11 members, headed by Muhammad Taha al-Ahmad. Its website was launched on August 15, 2025, to enhance transparency.
- Branches:
Subcommittees: 60 committees (one for each electoral district), with 3-5 members (an odd number), selected according to strict criteria (Syrians, not affiliated with the former regime). Members were sworn in on September 3, 2025, in most governorates.
Auxiliary committees:
A. Legal Committee: To provide advice and draft instructions (Decision No. 1 of June 20, 2025).
B. Media Committee: To disseminate information and enhance transparency.
C. Appeals Committee: To adjudicate objections within 3 days.
Tasks: Preparing the electoral system, supervising the process, ensuring integrity, and monitoring appeals.
- Formation of Electoral Bodies (September 1-12, 2025):
- Each subcommittee will select a list of 30-50 individuals (notables, intellectuals, and qualified individuals) to form a local electoral body representing the electoral district.
- Timeline:
a. Member selection and application process begins: September 7, 2025.
b. Applications close: September 11, 2025.
c. Announcement of preliminary lists: September 12, 2025. - All Syrians (inside/outside Syria) are eligible to participate in the bodies, provided they meet the requirements.
- Nominations and Elections (September 15-20, 2025):
- Nominations: Nominations for 140 seats will open from September 15 to September 17, 2025, with a week allocated for program preparation and debates.
- Elections: Voting bodies will vote by secret ballot (a simple majority) in the presence of candidate representatives (one for each candidate).
- Results:
a. Announcement of preliminary results: September 18, 2025. - Appeals period: September 18-20, 2025, to be decided by the Appeals Committee, followed by the Higher Committee.
- Announcement of final lists: September 20, 2025.
- Accreditation and Appointment (September 21-30, 2025):
- The Supreme Committee will approve the names of the winners after reviewing the appeals by September 21, 2025.
- President Ahmed al-Sharaa will appoint 70 additional members by September 25, 2025, to ensure representation of qualified candidates and areas not covered (such as Sweida, Raqqa, and Hasakah, if their elections are postponed for security reasons).
- Announcement of the final council list: September 30, 2025.
- Oversight and Integrity:
- The process will be monitored by local and international organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union, and Transparency International, with the judiciary being independent in deciding appeals.
- Penalties for fraud (imprisonment and fines) will be imposed in accordance with the temporary law.
Transition of Tasks and Commencement of Parliamentary Work:
- Committee Termination:
a. Subcommittees: Their duties will expire after the announcement of the final results on September 20, 2025, with the possibility of a short extension for appeals until September 21, 2025.
b. Supreme Committee: Their duties will expire after the approval of the full list on September 30, 2025, with the formation of the Council completed within 90 days of the commencement of its work (June 15, 2025). - Commencement of Parliamentary Work:
a. The Council will be convened for its first session on October 1, 2025, chaired by President Ahmed al-Sharaa or his representative. - The Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected during the first session, and the Council will then assume its legislative duties (enacting laws, oversight of the government, and representation of the people).
b. The term will officially begin with the first session (October 1, 2025) and will last for 30 months, until March 31, 2028, with the possibility of extension if necessary.
Conclusion:
We previously addressed this issue in two policy papers published on the official website of the Syrian Future Movement, titled:
“The Syrian People’s Assembly: Between Political Reform and the Reproduction of Centralization” – June 2025.
“The President Submits the Final Version of the Interim Electoral System to the People’s Assembly” – July 2025.
We also presented our vision in the statement published on our website, titled:
“The Organizational Plan for the People’s Assembly Elections.”
However, we generally believe that the methodology for forming the Syrian People’s Assembly during the transitional phase is a crucial step toward establishing comprehensive democratic governance. The interim electoral system, despite its complexities, reflects a balance between societal representation and competencies, while taking into account Syria’s exceptional challenges.
The oversight of the Supreme Committee and its branches ensures the integrity of the process, while the launch of Parliament on October 1, 2025, paves the way for a new phase of legislative stability, in preparation for a permanent constitution and comprehensive elections by 2028.
References:
- Decree No. 66: https://www.sana.sy/?p=2231640
- Decree No. 143: http://furat.alwehda.gov.sy/?p=157193
- Decision No. 24: https://sana.sy/locals/2274784/
- Executive Instructions: https://sana.sy/locals/2278477/
