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People's Assembly of Syria

The People's Assembly (Arabic: مَجْلِس الشَّعْب, ALA-LC: Majlis ash-Shaʻb) is the legislature of Syria. It has 250 members elected for a four-year term in 15 multi-seat constituencies.

People's Assembly

مجلس الشعب‎

ALA-LC: Majlis ash-Shaʻb
Currently suspended[1]
Most recent: 17th Parliament
Type
Type
Leadership
Vacant
Structure
Seats250
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
15 July 2024
Next election
TBD
Meeting place
Parliament Building, Damascus, Syria
Website
parliament.gov.sy

History

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French Mandate

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After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the Syrian National Congress was convened in May 1919 in Damascus. In September 1920, Henri Gouraud, High Commissioner of the Levant, formed a representative council, with two-thirds elected and one-third appointed by the French administration. On 28 June 1922, the Syrian Federation was established, creating a Federation Council of 15 members from various states. Due to the lack of elections, these members were appointed by the High Commissioner in 1923, and their terms were extended the following year.[2]

In 1925, after the formation of the State of Syria, President Ahmad Nami and High Commissioner Henri Ponsot agreed to hold elections for a constituent assembly to draft a constitution.[3] This led to the first Syrian legislative elections in 1928, which elected 68 representatives but was later disbanded on 5 February 1929.[4] Article Thirty of the 1930 Constitution established a legislative authority known as the House of Representatives, with representatives elected for five-year terms. From the adoption of the constitution until its abolition in 1949, the number of representatives ranged from 68 to 136 members.

The first elections for the House of Representatives were held in December 1931 and January 1932. The first council met in June 1932 and facilitated a compromise that led to Muhammad Ali Bey al-Abid's presidency. In the 1936 elections, the National Bloc won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, and Hashim al-Atassi was elected president.[5] Concurrently, negotiations with France led to the independence treaty, ratified by the Syrian Parliament in December 1936. The 1947 Syrian parliamentary election was the first held after independence.

Ba'athist rule

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Following the 1963 coup, a 250-member People's Assembly largely served as a rubber stamp for the ruling Ba'athists.[6]

The 2012 elections, held on 7 May, resulted in a new parliament that, for the first time in four decades, was nominally based on a multi-party system.[7] In 1938, Fares Al-Khoury became the first Christian to be elected Speaker.

In 2016, Hadiya Khalaf Abbas, Ph.D., representing Deir Ezzor since 2003, became the first woman elected to be the Speaker.[8][9][10] In 2017, Hammouda Sabbagh became the first Syriac Orthodox Christian to have held the post.[11] There were two main political fronts; the National Progressive Front and Popular Front for Change and Liberation.

Post-Assad

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Following the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, the assembly published a statement calling that day a "historic day in the lives of all Syrians", stating that it would work towards ensuring the upholding of the rule of law without discrimination. The statement included the new coat of arms of Syria, adorned with the flag of the Syrian opposition.[12]

On 11 December, the Ba'ath Party indefinitely halted all activities.[13][14] The following day, the Syrian transitional government suspended the assembly and constitution during the three-month transitional period.[15]

Last election

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Main article: 2024 Syrian parliamentary election

The last elections were held on the 15 July 2024. The National Progressive Front won 185 out of 250 seats, 169 of which were for the Ba'ath Party, while 65 Independents held the rest of the seats.[16]

Names of legislature

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The name of the legislature in Syria has changed, as follows, as has the composition and functions:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Syria new leadership suspends constitution, parliament for 3 months". Middle East Monitor. 14 December 2024.
  2. ^ Alhakim 1983, pp. 86–87.
  3. ^ Alhakim 1983, p. 209.
  4. ^ Alhakim 1983, p. 216.
  5. ^ Alhakim 1983, p. 269.
  6. ^ Oweis, Khaled Yacoub. "Syria to elect parliament in July after Assad makes changes in ruling Baath party". The National. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Assad says Syria 'able' to get out of crisis". Al Jazeera. 2012-05-25. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  8. ^ "Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas Elected as First Woman Speaker of Syrian People's Assembly". Al Manar TV Website Archive. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  9. ^ "Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas elected as first woman speaker of People's Assembly". Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas elected as the first woman Speaker of the People's Assembly". Syrian Arab News Agency. 2016-06-06. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  11. ^ "انتخاب مسيحي أرثوذكسي رئيسًا لمجلس الشعب السوري". وطنى (in Arabic). 2017-09-28. Archived from the original on 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  12. ^ "Syria Parliament Says 'Supports People's Will', After Assad Falls". Barron's. 9 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Assad's Baath party suspends work indefinitely in Syria". France 24. 11 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Baath Party Of Syria's Assad Says Suspends Work Indefinitely". Barron's. 11 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Syria's new govt says to suspend constitution, parliament for three months". Al Arabiya. 12 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Syria's ruling Baath party wins parliamentary vote as expected". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 19 July 2024.

33°31′5″N 36°17′35″E / 33.51806°N 36.29306°E / 33.51806; 36.29306

Sources

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  • Alhakim, Youssef (1983). Syria and the French Mandate (in Arabic). Beirut: Dar Al-Nahar.
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