Syria's parliament has announced the remaining 70 names of MPs appointed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa and set the date for the opening of Syria's People's Assembly.
Mohammad Taha al-Ahmed, chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, said at a press conference in Damascus that the announcement represents "a new national milestone in the journey of building the Syrian state".
He added that the 70 members balance "the voice of sacrifice and the voice of expertise", a nod to members who had spent years in the political opposition against Assad, as well as those who bring a technocratic perspective to parliament.
This includes Hassan Soufan, who was the head of Ahrar al-Sham, an Islamist rebel group that fought against the Assad regime during the civil war, and who had spent time in Seydnaya Prison.
Another former opposition member is Gabriel Moshi Kourieh, a Syrian Christian and member of the Assyrian Democratic Organisation who was jailed by the regime between 2013 and 2016.
Prominent Druze Sheikh Laith al-Balous, who had been part of a coalition of Druze leaders controlling autonomy from Assad in Suweida, was also appointed to Parliament.
Sectarian fighting in July 2025, which saw pro-government forces commit war crimes against civilians in the province, led to Balous's expulsion following a split with rival leader Hikmat al-Hijri.
When broken down, the 70 members include 23 public figures and 47 professionals and experts, including 12 with master's degrees and 17 with doctoral degrees, according to Mohammad Hamza Shammout, Secretary-General of the People's Assembly.
When accounting for geographic dispersion, five are from Idlib; six from Homs, seven from Hassakeh, four from Daraa, three from Raqqa, five from Damascus, two from Quneitra, six from Deir ez-Zor, four from Latakia, five from Rural Damascus, 14 from Aleppo, two from Tartus, five from Hama, and two from As-Suwayda.
Of the 70 appointments, 15 were women, meaning there are now 21 women in parliament after only six were chosen in a previous selection in October .
Included in those chosen are Syrian actress Rozina Lazkani and Aisha al-Dibs, who heads the government's women's affairs office.
Mohammad Tala al-Ahmed said that the first session of the parliament will convene on 6 July. Mixed reactions The appointments have garnered a mixed reaction, with some noting the continued under-representation of women in the parliament, while others noted that after months of delays, it's an important step in ensuring a proper transition away from Assad.
This was echoed by Bassam al-Kuwaiti, leader of the Syrian Liberal Party, who told The New Arab that the appointment was important following the long wait, though the lack of women and "unknown names" revealed faults in the general process.
"The whole process went without proper consultations with the Syrian public and without a national dialogue; therefore it was designed to serve one party only," he said.
According to Noah Bonsey, Senior Adviser on Syria for the International Crisis Group, Sharaa's appointments have increased the diversity of the parliament, though not in line with the rest of the country.
He told The New Arab that many in Syria and internationally will be looking to see how involved and effective the parliament will be in moving the transition forward, and amending the problems created by the Assad-era legal system.
Included in the priorities are "the major threats posed by vigilante violence, sectarian incitement and hate speech. The government can do more to address these, and new legislation could help."
Bonsey added that a legal basis is also needed for transitional justice for crimes committed by the Assad regime, as well as by government forces.
"Syrians across the political spectrum are hoping for more clarity and transparency on this process, and new legislation could be critical in providing that."
He added that legislation is also needed for boosting investment into the country , with legal certainty crucial for potential international partners.
Rahaf Aldoughli, an Assistant Professor in Middle East and North African Studies at Lancaster University, was more sceptical.
She noted to The New Arab that during questions asked by the press following the announcement, Al-Ahmed insinuated that the country was lucky that Ahmed al-Sharaa allowed the country to have a parliament, as often following revolutions the new governing authorities lead the country in the direction of their choosing.
"In all countries where revolutions succeed - or even military coups take place - a supreme council is usually formed to lead the revolution or the state, and all powers are vested in that council, whether executive, legislative or judicial," he said.
"However, because this is Syria, and because of the greatness of the Syrian people, the leadership - represented by the victors and by His Excellency President Ahmad al-Sharaa - chose a different path."
Asked whether the parliament would simply rubberstamp government legislation or scrutinise it, Aldoughli said: "It can be both."
"There might be some pushback from the parliament on core revolutionary demands such as no reconciliation with ex-regime officers/warlords or personnel . On such demands, I think the council might witness debate and criticism, as renouncing such demands might endanger their social base."
"But also on other matters, I doubt the independence of this council."
Razan Rashidi, Executive Director of The Syria Campaign, told The New Arab that with the lack of women in parliament, "the legislature is already proving that it is not representative of the population."
Noting that its own polling showed young Syrians across the country wanted democratic principles to guide the country, Rashidi said, "every single one of the 210 new parliamentarians must listen to these calls from young people and seek out diverse dialogue with communities to hear their priorities for their time in office".