Syrian Arab Republic - October 2025
Syria holds indirect parliamentary elections for transitional period
On 5 October, Syria held indirect parliamentary elections to fill 119 of the 210 seats in the new People’s Assembly, the country’s unicameral parliament, which will serve a 30-month transitional term. Under a temporary electoral law issued in August, two-thirds of the seats were to be chosen through electoral colleges, while the remaining third would be appointed by President Al-Sharaa. Approximately 6,000 electoral-college members (selected via district subcommittees) voted for 1,578 pre-listed candidates, 14 per cent of whom were women. Voting did not take place in the governorates of Sweida, Raqqa, and Al-Hasakah due to insecurity and lack of full government control. Only six women were elected among the 119 seats, suggesting that Al-Sharaa may need to appoint additional women to meet the 20 per cent quota established under the temporary electoral law. Al-Sharaa has not yet made his 70 appointments, and the 21 seats in governorates where elections were postponed remain vacant.
Sources: Syrian Arab News Agency, Al Jazeera, The New Arab, Arab Reform Initiative, Enab Baladi
