Syria’s newly formed parliament has held its first session, 19 months after armed opposition groups led by Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad. Speaking at the opening session in Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa urged lawmakers to turn the new body into “a model of responsibility and competence”. He described parliament as a platform for “truth and justice”. “Syria is writing a proud new chapter in its history, reflecting the sacrifices and achievements of its people,” Mr al-Sharaa said. “We carry the responsibility of building the nation and developing its people.” The new parliament is being closely watched as a test of Mr al-Sharaa’s commitment to establishing a more inclusive political system in Syria. The country was ruled by the Assad family for more than five decades, with parliament often criticised for serving mainly as a body that approved government decisions rather than providing independent oversight.
