How did the Syrian People’s Assembly discuss the state of the energy sector?

Monitoring Parliamentary Performance, Oversight, and Representation of Governorates’ Issues in the Fourth Session of the Syrian People’s Assembly – Discussion of the Energy Sector

How did the Syrian People’s Assembly discuss the state of the energy sector?

A report by Raasid Syria monitors the performance of members of the Syrian People’s Assembly during its fourth session, held on 20 September 2026, which was dedicated to discussing the state of the energy sector in the presence of the Minister of Energy.

The report documented 87 recorded interventions addressing issues that directly affect citizens’ daily lives, including fuel prices, pricing mechanisms and subsidies, oil and gas production, the state of the Baniyas Refinery, electricity and renewable energy, as well as water, dams, and irrigation. It also highlighted service-related demands concerning several governorates.

The report further examined questions related to contract transparency and resource management, the clarity of government responses, and the challenges in ensuring that all members of parliament had the opportunity to participate amid the high volume of interventions and limited time.

The report emphasizes that assessing parliamentary oversight requires more than counting the questions raised. It also involves following up on government commitments, verifying the implementation of announced plans, and tracking the questions referred to the ministry for written responses.

Read the full report and explore the monitoring findings and detailed analysis through the link below:

🔗 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D7aZFsTEZNPK_QubFltI8DSYCd5-kB_G/view?usp=sharing

Damascus Workshop Concludes with Focus on Legislative Development and Civil Society–Parliament Cooperation

Damascus, 8 October 2026 — The workshop titled “The Relationship Between Civil Society, Political Forces, and Parliament: Comparative International Experiences to Strengthen the Legislative Role in Syria” concluded in Damascus. The two-day event, held on 7–8 October at the Blue Tower Hotel, was organized by the Syrian Community Monitoring Network (Raased Syria) within the Stabilization Support Unit (SSU), in partnership with Al-Hayat Center – RASED Jordan and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

The workshop brought together members of the Syrian People’s Assembly, representatives of civil society organizations, activists from various Syrian regions, and experts. Its objective was to strengthen understanding of the mechanisms through which civil society, parliament, and political forces interact, while drawing on international experiences to develop legislative work and improve the quality of legislation.

The programme combined knowledge-sharing sessions, interactive discussions, and practical workshops, linking comparative experiences with local priorities and creating space for exchanging perspectives on how to build a more effective relationship between civil society and legislative institutions.

The first day addressed the nature of the relationship between civil society, political forces, and parliament, examining their respective roles in discussing public issues and developing legislation. An interactive discussion was also dedicated to identifying the legislative priorities of local communities and civil society in Syria, connecting the dialogue to citizens’ needs and the issues affecting their communities.

The programme also featured a presentation on Jordan’s experience in strengthening the legislative role, followed by an open discussion to draw lessons and explore how these experiences could be applied within the Syrian context.

The second day focused on comparative international experiences from Tunisia, Morocco, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Latin America, and Asia. These presentations were followed by discussions comparing the different experiences and identifying lessons that could be relevant to Syria, while taking into account differences in political, institutional, and social contexts.

This session facilitated knowledge exchange on mechanisms for engagement between civil society and legislative institutions, while exploring options for expanding public participation and improving the quality of legislative work.

The workshop’s concluding sessions shifted towards practical application, with working groups developing proposals to strengthen the legislative role. The groups then presented their findings for discussion. This component connected locally identified priorities with insights drawn from international experiences, aiming to translate shared knowledge into proposals that could be further developed.

The programme also concluded with an agreement on a follow-up mechanism to sustain communication and support continued work on the proposals beyond the workshop.

The workshop provided an opportunity for direct engagement among parliamentarians, civil society representatives, activists, and experts, enabling them to exchange perspectives on legislative priorities and potential avenues for cooperation. The diversity of participants helped strengthen connections among the organizations and stakeholders involved, while allowing voices from different Syrian regions to bring their concerns into a shared discussion.

Overall, the workshop centred on three interconnected areas: transferring knowledge from comparative international experiences, discussing local legislative priorities, and developing proposals alongside a follow-up mechanism. Together, these areas lay the groundwork for stronger cooperation between civil society and legislative institutions and for ensuring that citizens’ needs are better reflected in discussions on legislation and public policy.

Discussing the state of education under the dome of the Syrian People’s Assembly.

Report on Parliamentary and Oversight Performance and the Representation of Provincial Issues during the Third Session of the Syrian People’s Assembly on the State of the Education Sector

This report is part of Raased Syria’s work to monitor parliamentary and oversight performance and the representation of provincial issues within the Syrian People’s Assembly. Its purpose is not limited to documenting what was said during the session; rather, it seeks to analyze how the Assembly exercises its oversight function: What issues did MPs raise? To what extent were these issues linked to the needs of citizens and provinces? How did the government respond? What commitments did it announce? And what can be followed up and measured after the session?

The report adopts an oversight-based approach that moves from question to answer, from answer to commitment, and from commitment to follow-up and outcome. The effectiveness of parliamentary oversight is not measured solely by the number of interventions, but by its ability to identify problems, obtain information, and encourage the executive authority to announce policies, measures, and commitments that can be revisited and assessed at a later stage. Accordingly, the report monitors four interconnected dimensions: the regularity and management of the session, the quality of MPs’ oversight performance, the representation of provincial issues and affected groups, and the nature of the government’s response and the extent to which its commitments can be followed up.

To read the full report, please visit the following link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UQL_v85G8wiibfj5omwKmxxL2eygxvDa/view?usp=drive_link

Who Makes Up the Additional One-Third of Syria’s People’s Assembly?

What does the composition of the additional one-third of the Syrian People's Assembly look like?

This report provides an analytical overview of the distribution of the 70 members in terms of governorates, professional backgrounds, educational levels, gender representation, and special categories. It reveals notable disparities in geographical and professional representation, alongside a strong presence of religious and academic elites and a relatively high educational level.

What do the numbers reveal about the balance of representation within the list? And what are the political and social implications of this distribution?

To read the full report:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jc3GDkKn1iVzvVq13dyKFycmZZR6Y8uD/view?usp=sharing

Read the full report in English:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rKM9YgWo8zF9uSJ-hSr2JBGIeMdSXrdE/view?usp=sharing

Follow Rased Syria on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EBcXsyamm/

Final Analytical Report on the Syrian People's Assembly Elections in Al-Hasakah and Aleppo Governorates

Final Analytical Report on the Syrian People's Assembly Elections in Al-Hasakah and Aleppo Governorates

This report, prepared by the Stability Support Unit – Syria Observer Network, provides a comprehensive analytical assessment of the electoral process in the constituencies of Al-Hasakah, Qamishli, Al-Malikiyah (Derik), and Ain al-Arab (Kobani).

The report is based on the results of the October 2025 elections and follows subsequent electoral developments, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of key electoral indicators, including:

▪️ Levels of political and social representation
▪️ Voter participation rates
▪️ The nature of competition among candidates and electoral lists
▪️ The impact of the Electoral Bodies System as a transitional mechanism for parliamentary representation

For more details, please refer to the attached link.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1H9mlr_WiGIXy5K_kkbMi5sOrdFM60V9i

Conclusion of Training Workshops for Empowering Syrian Women Legislators in Amman

The training workshops dedicated to empowering Syrian women legislators concluded in the Amman/ Jordan. The workshops were implemented over five days by the Syrian Community Monitoring Network (RASED) of the Stabilization Support Unit (SSU), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), as part of the “Support and Empowerment of Syrian Women Parliamentarians” Program, under the patronage of the Higher Committee for the Elections of the People’s Assembly.

The final day featured sessions focused on strengthening cooperation between legislative councils and civil society, mechanisms for advocacy and coalition-building, as well as discussions on the constitutional and legislative priorities for Syrian women in the coming phase, in a way that supports their presence and active participation in political and legislative life.

The workshops also provided a space for exchanging expertise and practical experiences through direct meetings and interactive discussions addressing political leadership, alliance-building, and institutional parliamentary work. The sessions brought together a group of Syrian women legislators, several Jordanian female parliamentarians, and a distinguished group of experts and specialists in legislative and political affairs.

The First Peace Ambassadors Forum in Damascus

The Stabilization Support Unit (SSU) organized the first forum for Peace Ambassadors, launching the reference document for the Peace Ambassadors program in Syria. This initiative aims to enhance women's role in building civil peace and social cohesion, and to promote a culture of dialogue among different components of society, in cooperation with the Women's Empowerment and Support Unit.

The forum was attended by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Syria, along with the Acting French Ambassador in Syria, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Favre, as well as various community representatives, civil society actors, and organizations working in development and social affairs.

During the forum, the ambassadors from different governorates presented highlights of the main activities and initiatives implemented during the first phase of the program, emphasizing their role in supporting social cohesion and enhancing local dialogue.

The forum also reviewed the reference document, which serves as the program’s main framework, aiming to unify working mechanisms and guide the ambassadors’ efforts to achieve a sustainable impact in their communities.

The forum concluded with the distribution of certificates of appreciation to the participating ambassadors, recognizing their efforts and contributions to the successful completion of the first phase of the program.

Handover of the Green Jobs Project Works in Aleppo

Following the completion of the Green Jobs Project, the Stability Support Unit (SSU) team, along with the Head of the ILO Office in Aleppo, Mr. Ahmad Haj Ali, conducted a visit to the General Company for Sewerage in the city of Aleppo.

During the visit, the team handed over the works implemented throughout the project period, in addition to the operational equipment.

The works included cleaning nearly 2,000 sewage points across 11 neighborhoods in the Qadi Askar sector in eastern Aleppo. The project contributed to

Syrian Rased Community Network

Preliminary Reading of the 2025 Syrian People’s Assembly Elections Reveals Opportunities and Challenges in Parliamentary Representation Syrian Rased Community Network: The 18–40 age group secures only 18.6% of seats in the new People’s Assembly Syrian Rased Community Network: Women hold 5% of seats, reflecting representation levels below regional and international standards Damascus – October 6, 2025: On October 5, 2025, the High Elections Committee announced the preliminary results of the Syrian People’s Assembly elections. A total of 119 parliamentarians were elected across 49 electoral districts covering all Syrian governorates. The results indicate that women’s representation stands at 5.04%, with six seats won out of 119. Although this figure remains low compared to regional and international averages, the presence of women in the assembly represents a significant step forward. It reflects the determination of several women leaders to compete despite challenging and complex circumstances. These results underscore the importance of developing a more supportive legislative and procedural environment to enhance women’s participation and strengthen their role in decision-making positions. Age Group Representation: In terms of age group representation, the results show that the majority of winners belong to the middle-aged category (41–60 years), accounting for 71% of the seats. The 18–40 age group secured 18.6%, while the elderly group (61 years and above) accounted for 10%. The average age of elected members is 48.2 years, a figure aligned with international norms and reflecting a blend of accumulated experience and youthful energy, though with varying degrees of representation among age groups. Age Group Analysis by Governorate: A detailed analysis of age groups by governorate reveals significant disparities in the average age of elected candidates across different regions. Quneitra recorded the lowest average age among elected members at (44 years), followed by Tartous (44.8 years) and Damascus (46.6 years). In contrast, Latakia recorded the highest average age at (53.9 years), followed by Daraa (52 years) and Deir ez-Zor (50.6 years). At the individual level, the youngest elected member is Mohammad Fawwaz Al-Mahalli from Aleppo Governorate, who is just 26 years old. The oldest is Osama Mohammad Saleh Al-Assaf from Deir ez-Zor, aged 72. Notably, Hama Governorate includes the youngest elected female member, Mu’mina Abdul Ghani Arabo, aged 33. Meanwhile, the governorates of Damascus, Tartous, and Quneitra had no elected members from the senior age group (over 60 years old). The Rased Syrian Community Network views these results as a significant milestone for understanding the current state of political representation in Syria, with its accompanying opportunities and challenges. The Network emphasizes that achieving gender balance and enhancing youth representation are key factors in ensuring a more inclusive and representative People’s Assembly—one that reflects the diversity of Syrian society and contributes to strengthening political participation and advancing the electoral process in the future.