During Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide's visit to Damascus, he met with Abdulhamid al-Awak, president of the Syrian People's Assembly. The meeting, held on Monday, focused on ways to strengthen relations between Syria and Norway.
The sides exchanged information about the working mechanism of the Syrian People's Assembly and shared their views on issues of mutual interest.
The structure of the Syrian People's Assembly in the new era
During Eide's visit to the assembly, the institution's operations and activities were reviewed. Abdulhamid al-Awak was elected in July as president of the first parliament of Syria's new era.
The establishment of the assembly was linked to the process of restructuring state institutions. The Syrian People's Assembly consists of 210 members. Of these, 140 are selected through electoral colleges in Syria's provinces, while 70 are appointed by the country's president.
The 70 appointed members make up the assembly's complementary one-third under the provisions of the temporary electoral system.
Political transition in Syria
The assembly was established as part of the political transition and restructuring of state institutions following the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule on December 8, 2024.
Bashar al-Assad ruled Syria for 24 years, from 2000 to 2024.