The game in Damascus is shifting. Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has just named the final 70 members of the interim parliament. This is the last piece in the puzzle of the post-Assad political order.
The move will complete the legislative body that is supposed to shepherd the country toward elections. But do not mistake this for a clean break. The appointees are a carefully curated mix of allies, tribal leaders, and minority representatives.
A nod to the factions that matter. The old Ba’athist networks are gone. In their place, a patchwork of loyalists and former opposition figures.
The key question: who holds the real power? Al-Sharaa’s office insists this parliament is a bridge to democracy. Insiders tell me it is more like a fortified position.
The assembly will have the authority to approve a new constitution and set the election date. But the president’s camp will hold the whip hand. The international community is watching.
No signs of a boycott from the major powers yet. But the leaks from Geneva suggest unease. The election timeline is still opaque.
The new parliament is expected to sit for a transitional period of two years. That is a long time to consolidate control. The real test will be the first vote on legislation with teeth.
A budget, perhaps. Or a security bill. The backbench will be quiet for now.
But dissent has a way of finding its voice. For the moment, al-Sharaa has his numbers. The game continues.
