Syria’s post-Assad parliament is now complete. The final 70 lawmakers have been sworn in. A moment of ceremony in Damascus. But behind the handshakes, the real politics is just beginning.
The transition remains fragile. Britain is watching closely. Whitehall sources confirm the Foreign Office has a dedicated team monitoring every twist. No formal recognition yet. Not until the new government proves it can hold.
The chamber is a patchwork. Old regime loyalists sit next to former rebels. Islamists, secularists, Kurds, and Alawites. All under one roof. It’s a miracle it happened at all. But miracles don’t last in Damascus.
The real test is the street. The economy is shattered. Power cuts. Food shortages. The new parliament has little authority. Real power lies with the militias. They haven’t disarmed. They won’t. Not easily.
Britain’s line is cautious. Publicly, they support the transition. Privately, they’re briefing allies to expect the worst. No one wants another Libya. A failed state on the Mediterranean. A playground for jihadists.
The new speaker is a former academic. Moderate. Seen as a safe pair of hands. But does he control the floor? The first vote will tell. A budget. A security bill. Test votes for the new order.
Number 10 has not issued a statement. That’s deliberate. They want to see which way the wind blows. The Foreign Secretary is due to meet her French and German counterparts next week. Syria will be top of the agenda.
For now, the transition holds. But every day is a battle. The final 70 lawmakers are in. The real work starts now.
