People's Assembly of Syria

33°31′5″N 36°17′35″E

People’s Assembly
of the Syrian Arab Republic

مجلس الشعب الجمهورية العربية السورية
Type
Type
Leadership
Hammouda Sabbagh, Ba'ath Party
since 28 September 2017
Structure
Seats250
Political groups
Government (250)

  National Progressive Front (183)

  Independents (67)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
19 July 2020
Next election
2024 (expected)
Meeting place
Parliament Building, Damascus, Syria
Website
http://parliament.gov.sy/

The People's Assembly (Arabic: مَجْلِس الشَّعْب, ALA-LC: Majlis al-Shaʻb) is Syria's legislative authority. It has 250 members elected for a four-year term in 15 multi-seat constituencies. There are two main political fronts; the National Progressive Front and Popular Front for Change and Liberation. 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.[1] 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.[2][3][4] In 2017, Hammouda Sabbagh became the first Syriac Orthodox Christian to have held the post.[5]

The assembly meets at least three times a year and in special occasions called by the council's president or the president of the country.[6] The council primarily serves as an institution to validate Syria's one-party system and the confirm the legislative proceedings of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath party.[7]

Latest elections

The last elections were held on the 19 July 2020.[8] Several lists were allowed to run across the country but any real opposition is absent. Millions of Syrians living abroad, after fleeing a war that has killed more than 380,000 people, are not eligible to vote.[8]

The National Progressive Front won 183 out of 250 seats, 167 of which were for the Baʻth Party, while 67 Independents held the rest of the seats.

Summary of the 19 July 2020 People's Council of Syria election results
Parties Seats Seats Inside
National Progressive Front (al-Jabha al-Waṭanīyah al-Taqaddumīyah) 183 183
167
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
Popular Front for Change and Liberation 0 0
0
Non-partisans (Independent) 67
Total 250
Source: Election results

Names of legislature

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

  • Under the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (1917–1920)
  • Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920)
  • State of Syria, part of the French Mandate (1922–1930)
    • Constituent Council (1923–1925)
    • Constituent Assembly (1924–1930)
  • Syrian Republic (1930–58)
    • Council of Representatives (1932–1933)
    • Chamber of Deputies (1932–1946)
    • House of Representatives (1947–1949)
    • Constituent Assembly (1949–1951)
    • Chamber of Deputies (1953–1958)
  • United Arab Republic (1958–1961)
    • Chamber of Deputies (1958–1960)
  • Syrian Arab Republic (1961–present)

See also

References

  1. "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.
  2. "Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas Elected as First Woman Speaker of Syrian People's Assembly - Al Manar TV Website Archive". archive.almanar.com.lb. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  3. "Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas elected as first woman speaker of People's Assembly". Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. Phillips, Douglas A.; Gritzner, Charles F. (2010). Syria. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9781438132389. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  7. Schlager, Weisblatt, Neil, Jayne; A. Faksh, Mahmud (2006). "Syrian Arab Republic". World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties (4th ed.). 132 West 31st Street, New York NY 10001, USA: Facts on File. p. 1303. ISBN 0-8160-5953-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Syrians vote in parliamentary election as inflation hits war-damaged economy". France 24. 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
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