Can the People’s Assembly Hold the Government Accountable? Lessons from Syria’s First Ministerial Hearings

When Syria’s education and energy ministers appeared before the People’s Assembly, its members had a rare opportunity to press the government on issues shaping daily life across the country. The hearings went beyond education and energy policy. They tested whether MPs could turn public frustration into meaningful pressure on the government. More broadly, they raised a question about Parliament’s role in holding those in power to account: could these hearings help establish scrutiny as a regular part of political life, rather than an occasional response to public discontent?

In both sessions, ministers pointed to the challenges of post-war reconstruction to explain current shortcomings while promising improvements ahead. But Parliament’s role must extend beyond giving voice to public grievances: MPs must be able to question how decisions are made, challenge the government’s justifications, and hold ministers to their promises. Without this scrutiny, state-building risks becoming a process driven by government priorities rather than citizens’ needs.