The First People's Assembly () was the first legislative term of the People's Assembly of Syria under the 2012 Constitution.
Following the adoption of the constitution, the numbering of legislative terms was reset; although officially designated the "First" People's Assembly under the new constitutional system, it was the tenth legislature since 1973, and the nineteenth in Syria's republican history. The assembly sat from 24 May 2012 to 23 May 2016 during the early years of the Syrian civil war.
Elections and formation
Legislative elections were held on 7 May 2012. These elections were the first held after the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011 and the first conducted under the 2012 Constitution, which introduced provisions for political pluralism. They were also the tenth legislative elections since the Corrective Movement and the third held during the presidency of Bashar al-Assad.
The newly elected assembly convened for its first session on 24 May 2012. It consisted of 250 members, including 32 women. Its composition included representatives from the National Progressive Front alongside other political parties and independent deputies. Among the participating parties were the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, the Syrian Communist Party (Bakdash), the Syrian Communist Party (Unified), the Arab Socialist Union, the Socialist Unionists, the Democratic Socialist Unionist Party, the Arab Socialist Movement, the Arab Democratic Union Party, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, the National Covenant Party, the People's Will Party, and independents.
Bureau of the People's Assembly Position Name Party Tenure Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Laham Deputy Speaker Fahmi Hassan Secretary Khaled al-Abboud Abdul-Muti Mishlab Overseer Rami Saleh Maria Saadeh
Members
PartyMembers Elected in 2012At dissolutionDifference 159 159 44 3 3 22 22 Arab Socialist Movement22 211 11 11 PFCL 6 6 2 11 Independent 66 68 2
Major legislation Law No. 5 of 24 March 2014 issuing the General Elections Law Law No. 7 of 16 April 2014 regarding the Supreme Constitutional Court
Notable developments
The first legislative term under the 2012 Constitution witnessed several institutional and political developments. New permanent committees were established within the Assembly, including committees on public freedoms and human rights, women, family and children, youth and sports, media and communications, national reconciliation, and matters relating to war victims and martyrs.
During the Syrian conflict, several members of the Assembly were abducted or killed.
References