Syrian parliament session postponed before Macron visit

In a decision issued on Sunday, 5 July, under No. 40, the committee said the session had been postponed and would be held on a date to be determined later.

Two members of the People’s Assembly confirmed to Enab Baladi that the assembly’s first session was postponed, without giving the reasons for the delay or the new date for convening it.

The postponement came after the Higher Elections Committee had invited assembly members to attend the first session on 6 July, according to an announcement made by the committee during a press conference held to disclose the members appointed by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

French President’s visit

The announcement of the postponement coincided with reports of a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Damascus to meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa, also expected tomorrow.

Activists linked the postponement to the visit, especially as the first session had been scheduled to include the swearing-in of assembly members before President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted the Presidential Media Directorate as saying that the delegation accompanying the French president includes investors and representatives of French companies, in an indication that the two sides are moving toward strengthening economic cooperation alongside political files.

The directorate said Presidents Ahmed al-Sharaa and Emmanuel Macron will hold a “roundtable dialogue session” with the two delegations.

According to the directorate, the talks will address developments in the regional and international situation and prospects for bilateral cooperation in various fields, as part of a shared commitment to continuing political dialogue and strengthening relations between the two countries.

What the first session includes

People’s Assembly member Nawar Najmeh told Enab Baladi earlier that the first session would be chaired by the oldest member by age and would include members taking the legal oath, followed by elections for the assembly speaker, deputy speaker, and members of the secretariat bureau.

In early October 2025, the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections held the voting process to select assembly members, while elections were postponed in some governorates that had been under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The committee completed elections in northeastern Syrian governorates earlier this year after the government took control of the area.

The committee has therefore completed voting in all electoral districts except those in Suwayda governorate, which include Suwayda, Shahba, and Salkhad, with only one seat allocated to each district.

The total number of People’s Assembly members is 210, including 140 elected seats, while 70 seats were appointed by the Syrian president.

Members appointed by the President

The Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections announced the list of 70 members appointed by the Syrian president to complete the quorum alongside previously elected members.

Election Committee head Mohammad Taha al-Ahmad said the appointed members include relatives of martyrs, survivors of detention centers and chemical attacks, and an elite group of academics, qualified professionals, community figures, and national figures known for their experience, integrity, and service to public affairs.

[Source: Enab Baladi English]