Syria War New Government

Syria's First Parliamentary Elections to Be Held in September

Syria is expected to hold its first parliamentary elections under the new administration in September, Mohamed Taha, the head of the electoral process, told the state news agency SANA, according to Reuters.

The vote for the People's Assembly, Syria's parliament, is expected to take place from September 15-20.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has received a draft of an electoral law that amends a previous decree and increases the number of seats from 150 to 210. A third of the seats will be appointed by the president.

Saudi Arabia Invests in Infrastructure in Syria

Saudi Arabia has been important to the new Syrian government since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December last year and has now pledged $2.9 billion, equivalent to approximately SEK 30.45 billion, to Syria to be spent on infrastructure. Al Jazeera writes.

It is seen as a new chapter for the nation, devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war. The infrastructure investment is part of a larger deal worth $6.4 billion, Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said Thursday at a conference in Damascus.

The new Syrian government took power in December last year after rebels toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad.