Syria has released initial results from its first parliamentary election since the fall of Bashar al-Assad last year, revealing limited representation for women and religious minorities.
Around 6,000 members of regional electoral colleges voted on Sunday to fill nearly two-thirds of the 210 parliamentary seats, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa expected to appoint the remaining lawmakers later.
The higher electoral committee confirmed that only 6 women were elected, while 10 seats went to ethnic and religious minorities, including Kurds, Christians and Alawites. Election observers said the new parliament remains overwhelmingly Sunni and male.
Committee spokesperson Nawar Najma admitted that women and Christian representation fell short, noting that only 2 Christians were elected despite their sizable population. He suggested the president may address these gaps when appointing additional members.
Authorities defended the indirect voting process, citing incomplete population data and ongoing instability following years of war that displaced millions. Elections were postponed in Kurdish-controlled regions and the Druze minority province of Sweida, leaving 21 seats vacant.
Under Assad’s rule, the 250-member assembly was dominated by the Baath Party, with women holding between 6% and 13% of seats- a pattern that appears largely unchanged under the new leadership.
