The National Unity (see note), led by President Bashar al-Assad’s Baath Arab Party, took a total of 183 seats in the 250-member People’s Assembly. According to the Higher Judicial Committee for elections, which did not announce the number of eligible voters, turnout was 33.17 per cent, down from 57.56 per cent recorded in 2016. In all, 28 women were elected, down from 33 in 2016. The new legislature, which convened on 10 August, re-elected as Speaker Mr. Hammouda Sabbagh (Baath Arab Party), serving in the post since 2017.

The 2020 elections were the third to be held since the 2011 uprising and ensuing civil war. According to the state news agency, more than 7,000 polling stations were set up across about 70 per cent of the country where the government maintains control. As was the case in 2012 and 2016, the major opposition parties boycotted the 2020 elections. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 elections were postponed twice – from 13 April to 20 May then to 19 July. During election campaigning, many candidates pledged to revive the country’s economy, tackle inflation and rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by the civil war.

Note:
All the nine parties which won parliamentary representation in 2020 belong to the National Unity while 67 remaining seats went to independent candidates.