Syria’s parliament opens with quiet break from Assad era

Syria's People's Assembly convened for its inaugural session Sunday, electing constitutional law scholar Dr. Abdul Hamid al-Awak as speaker and marking a significant step in the nation's transitional period following the fall of former President Bashar Assad. The legislature, consisting of 210 seats with 140 elected members and 70 appointed by the president, convened with 206 lawmakers taking their constitutional oath.

Al-Awak, a former judge and professor from Hasakah province, is recognized as a key figure in Syria's transition. He previously chaired the committee that drafted the country's constitutional declaration and is known for advocating for the separation of powers and stronger parliamentary oversight. His election to lead the first post-Assad legislature underscores a move towards establishing a new political framework.

However, what captured the attention of many Syrians was not just the election of leadership but the symbolic absence of the prolonged applause that traditionally accompanied the arrival of former presidents Hafez and Bashar Assad. This departure from decades of public displays of loyalty was widely viewed as a potential indicator of an emerging political culture within the legislature.

The session also featured several symbolic firsts, including the seating of the first Kurdish woman and the first veiled woman in the assembly. Furthermore, the election of Dr. Madona Suhail Bashara as second deputy speaker placed a woman in one of the new legislature's top leadership positions. President Ahmed al-Sharaa described the assembly's launch as an "important national milestone" toward strengthening consultation, responsibility, and institution-building based on dialogue, competence, and the rule of law.

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an important national milestone