Syria’s new parliament will hold its first session on the preliminary date of June 8 after the approval of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's final share of seats in the legislature, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The president boasts 70 seats in the 210-member parliament.
The sources said the final list of the share is being finalized with some amendments expected if some of the lawmakers, who won in recent elections, are unable to assume their duties.
The list includes figures from across Syrian segments. Efforts were made to “fill gaps” that were a result of the elections to raise the level of representation of major cities that have high populations.
Efforts were also sought to increase the number of females in parliament.
The statements mean that the president’s share was subject to negotiations with the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). They revealed that the government agreed to “appeasing” the Kurdish forces by raising the level of parliamentary representation of the eastern region.
They spoke of the possibility of raising to more than ten representatives of eastern regions that used to be held by the SDF. Representation could also be increased in Manbij east of Aleppo through a presidential appointment. The same could apply for the two Ghouta regions in the Damascus countryside and for Druze and Christian segments.
Asharq Al-Awsat also learned that some members of the parliament may propose changing the official name of the legislature, known as the “People’s Assembly” that is associated with the ousted Assad regime, to “Syrian parliament”.
Such a change requires the approval of the majority of MPs, which is already available, said the sources.
