The Syrian Future Movement follows with interest the commencement of the first regular session of the first legislative term of the Syrian People\u2019s Assembly, which began on Sunday, October 18, 2026. This institutional step is part of the process of rebuilding Syrian state institutions following the fall of the defunct regime, marking a transition from the initial phase of establishment and organization to a phase of regularly exercising legislative and oversight responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The session\u2019s agenda included discussions on a number of significant legislative files, such as proposals concerning land in border regions, penalties for abandoning one\u2019s professional duties, legislation allocating job vacancies to the families of martyrs, and the authority to expropriate real estate. Additionally, the Assembly reviewed government responses regarding issues in the sectors of education and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Syrian Future Movement views the consistent functioning of the parliament as a national necessity for completing institutional development, it emphasizes that the value of legislative bodies is not measured by the number of sessions held or the volume of laws enacted. Rather, it is measured by their capacity to achieve justice, protect rights, oversee the executive branch, and translate the aspirations of citizens into policies and legislation that positively impact their daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guided by our national vision and our long-standing positions regarding the independence of the legislative branch\u2014as well as the necessity of completing the state\u2019s political and constitutional structure\u2014the Syrian Future Movement asserts the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement maintains that the regular convening of the People\u2019s Assembly must be accompanied by the consolidation of its genuine independence from the executive branch, ensuring that it can exercise its constitutional and oversight responsibilities free from interference or external direction. The legislative council is neither an extension of the government nor necessarily its adversary; rather, it is an independent authority that functions in complementarity with the government, based on the principle of the separation and balance of powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We emphasize that the Syrian experience has demonstrated the dangers of reducing the legislative institution to a body that merely rubber-stamps decisions, without exercising oversight or accountability. Overcoming this legacy requires a fundamental shift in political culture\u2014not merely a change in names or structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Secondly<\/strong>, the Syrian Future Movement reiterates its call to prioritize the enactment of a law on political parties. This is in line with Article 14 of the Constitutional Declaration, which guarantees citizens the right to establish political parties in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this context, we recall our study published on October 12, 2026, titled “Political Parties: Between the Necessity of Representation and the Risks of Delay.” In it, we argued that the persistent legal vacuum regarding partisan activity undermines the prospects for building a pluralistic political life and limits the ability of national forces to carry out their roles in an institutional manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We contend that postponing this legislation\u2014under the pretext of waiting for stability\u2014is fundamentally problematic. Organized political pluralism is not merely an outcome of stability; it is, in fact, an essential tool for generating and consolidating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accordingly, we call upon the People\u2019s Assembly to initiate a broad national dialogue on a transitional law for political parties. Such a law must guarantee freedom of political organization, transparency in funding, the independence of national decision-making, and equal opportunity\u2014ensuring that the political sphere is neither monopolized nor subjected to personal or factional interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Third<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement follows with interest the projects and proposals put forward to review various existing pieces of legislation. It believes that eliminating laws that have entrenched injustice, discrimination, and the restriction of freedoms is essential for reforming the legal system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, we emphasize that the repeal of any legislation must be preceded by an objective assessment of its legal, social, and economic implications. Furthermore, the rectification of a past grievance must not lead to the creation of a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this context, we draw attention to the importance of studying the consequences of the proposal to repeal the law that allocates a portion of job vacancies to the families of martyrs and those in similar categories. Such a review should aim to achieve justice and equal opportunity, while simultaneously safeguarding the legitimate rights of victims’ families, without discrimination or exclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also stress the necessity of reviewing real estate and expropriation legislation to ensure the protection of private property, the restoration of rights to their rightful owners, and the prevention of the continuation of practices previously used to encroach upon the property of Syrians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fourth<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement welcomes the inclusion of inquiries directed at the Ministers of Energy and Education within the Council\u2019s proceedings. It advocates for the development of this step into a regular oversight practice\u2014one rooted in genuine accountability and the evaluation of government performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian citizen\u2014who grapples with a high cost of living, diminished purchasing power, and challenges related to energy, education, and public services\u2014does not merely expect their representatives to relay complaints. Rather, they expect measurable results, clear courses of action, and the holding of those who fail in their duties to account. We believe it is the duty of the People\u2019s Assembly to demand that ministries and government bodies present publicly available action plans\u2014outlining objectives, timelines, performance indicators, and funding sources\u2014while also periodically publishing the results of progress monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We emphasize that rigorous parliamentary oversight is not intended to weaken the government; rather, it serves to refine its performance, safeguard public funds, and bolster citizens’ trust in state institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fifth<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement calls for greater transparency in parliamentary proceedings. Draft laws should be published well in advance of deliberations, providing experts, labor unions, civil society groups, and political forces the opportunity to offer their input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, we advocate for the publication of session minutes, voting records, and the positions taken by individual members on key legislation, thereby enabling citizens to track and evaluate the performance of their representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legislation that affects the lives of millions of Syrians should not be drafted in isolation from them. Societal participation in the law-making process is not a political luxury; it is a vital guarantee for improving the quality of laws, as well as enhancing their public acceptance and overall effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sixth<\/strong>: The Syrian Future Movement asserts that the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the formation of the current People\u2019s Assembly impose an added responsibility to strengthen communication channels between the legislative institution and all segments of Syrian society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We believe that true national representation is not achieved through numerical presence alone; rather, it requires creating space for… …incorporating diverse political and social viewpoints, activating mechanisms for consultation and accountability, and working to develop the electoral system to ensure broader and more direct popular representation in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also warn against the danger of reproducing a culture of political subservience or narrow loyalties within legislative institutions. We assert that the success of a member of parliament should be measured by their performance, the independence of their stance, and their service to the public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seventh: Based on the above, the Syrian Future Movement calls for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Syrian Future Movement views the commencement of the first regular session of the People\u2019s Assembly as a significant institutional milestone. At the same time, it serves as a practical test of the Syrian state\u2019s capacity to transition from a legitimacy rooted in change to one rooted in institutions\u2014shifting from managing the transitional phase through ad-hoc decrees to managing it through the rule of law, accountability, and participation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first regular session of the Syrian People’s Assembly has commenced, featuring important discussions on fundamental laws and legislation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":67932,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4843,179,4841],"tags":[4706],"class_list":["post-67934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal-office","category-political-office-en","category-popular-base-office","tag-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n\n