Next Palestinian general election
Encyclopedia
A presidential and parliamentary election to the Palestinian National Authority
is intended to be held within a year after May 4, 2011. The elections has been postponed because of intra-Palestinian political disputes
between Fatah
and Hamas
following the Gaza Warhttp://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=15161 from the original date of 17 July, 2010.>http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Hamas+vows+boycott+Palestinian+elections/4247649/story.html
In November 2011, an election date on 4 May 2012 was preliminarily agreed on.
of the Fatah
party unilaterally changed the electoral law from being half proportionally elected and half constituency/first past the post-based to full proportional representation
. He insisted he could issue the change by decree
as long as the Palestinian Legislative Council
was unable to convene. The move was seen as a bid to lessen the chances of Hamas, the rival party, in the next election. The Hamas party, which controls the PLC, declared the move to be illegal. Face-to-face interviews of 1,270 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from 6–8 September 2007 by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
, showed 53% in favor of the change, with a margin of error of 3%.
, would become president after Abbas' term ended until elections could be held.
Fatah meanwhile argue that elections should be held in January 2010 since the Palestinian election law calls for Presidential and Parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously 4 years after the date of the later. Since the Parliamentary elections were held in 2006 (a year after the Presidential ones), new elections for both should have been held in January 2010.
In September 2008 it was suggested that Abbas' term would be extended one year or that parliament will be dissolved a year early in order to hold both elections at the same time.
In reconciliation talks held in Egypt in March 2009, Hamas and Fatah agreed to hold the elections by 25 January 2010.
In February 2010, local elections were scheduled in the West Bank and Gaza for July 2010. The Palestinian government decided to postpone this election, arguing that it wanted to safeguard "national unity". In December 2010, the Palestinian High Court ruled that once the cabinet calls for elections, it does not have authority to cancel them.
as chief negotiator with Israel for the Middle East peace process following the release of the Palestine Papers
, which were harshly critical of the PLO's concessions, the PLO Executive Committee announced intentions to hold elections before October.
Abbas's followed the announcement with calls for "the spirit of change in Egypt" to inspire Palestinian unity. His aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said: "The Palestinian leadership decided to hold presidential and legislative elections within September. It urges all the sides to put their differences aside."
Fawzi Barhoum, a spokeman for Hamas, said that Abbas does not have the legitimacy to make the electoral call. "Hamas will not take part in this election. We will not give it legitimacy. And we will not recognise the results."
Mohamed Abutair has announced he will run as an independent candidate for the elections 2012 on a platform of 'Change for Peace in Palestine' .
Mohamed Abutair met with the Secretary General of Fatah's powerful Central Committee, Faruq al-Qadummi, to discuss the possible formation of a unity Palestinian Authority Government with Hamas under his leadership, should he become the new President pa election results 2010.
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
is intended to be held within a year after May 4, 2011. The elections has been postponed because of intra-Palestinian political disputes
Fatah–Hamas conflict
The Fatah–Hamas conflict , also referred to as the Palestinian Civil War , and the Conflict of Brothers , i.e...
between Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
and Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
following the Gaza Warhttp://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=15161 from the original date of 17 July, 2010.>http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Hamas+vows+boycott+Palestinian+elections/4247649/story.html
In November 2011, an election date on 4 May 2012 was preliminarily agreed on.
Electoral law change
In 2007, President Mahmoud AbbasMahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas , also known by the kunya Abu Mazen , has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation since 11 November 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority on 15 January 2005 on the Fatah ticket.Elected to serve until 9 January 2009, he unilaterally...
of the Fatah
Fatah
Fataḥ is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization , a multi-party confederation. In Palestinian politics it is on the left-wing of the spectrum; it is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its official goals are found...
party unilaterally changed the electoral law from being half proportionally elected and half constituency/first past the post-based to full proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. He insisted he could issue the change by decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
as long as the Palestinian Legislative Council
Palestinian Legislative Council
The Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 132 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza...
was unable to convene. The move was seen as a bid to lessen the chances of Hamas, the rival party, in the next election. The Hamas party, which controls the PLC, declared the move to be illegal. Face-to-face interviews of 1,270 Palestinian adults in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, conducted from 6–8 September 2007 by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research is a Palestinian research organisation and think tank based in Ramallah established for "advancing scholarship and knowledge on immediate issues of concern to Palestinians in three areas: domestic politics and government, strategic analysis and...
, showed 53% in favor of the change, with a margin of error of 3%.
Election date dispute
Abbas' term as president ended on 9 January 2009, during the Gaza War. Hamas has objected to holding joint elections saying the presidential election should be held in January 2009 and the parliamentary elections in 2010. The movement has also stated that Aziz al-Dewik, the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative CouncilPalestinian Legislative Council
The Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislature of the Palestinian Authority, is a unicameral body with 132 members, elected from 16 electoral districts in the West Bank and Gaza...
, would become president after Abbas' term ended until elections could be held.
Fatah meanwhile argue that elections should be held in January 2010 since the Palestinian election law calls for Presidential and Parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously 4 years after the date of the later. Since the Parliamentary elections were held in 2006 (a year after the Presidential ones), new elections for both should have been held in January 2010.
In September 2008 it was suggested that Abbas' term would be extended one year or that parliament will be dissolved a year early in order to hold both elections at the same time.
In reconciliation talks held in Egypt in March 2009, Hamas and Fatah agreed to hold the elections by 25 January 2010.
In February 2010, local elections were scheduled in the West Bank and Gaza for July 2010. The Palestinian government decided to postpone this election, arguing that it wanted to safeguard "national unity". In December 2010, the Palestinian High Court ruled that once the cabinet calls for elections, it does not have authority to cancel them.
Electoral announcement
In February 2011, following the resignation of Saeb ErekatSaeb Erekat
Saeb Muhammad Salih Erekat Saeb Muhammad Salih Erekat Saeb Muhammad Salih Erekat (also Erakat; Ṣāʼib ʻUrayqāt or ʻRēqāt, born April 28, 1955 in Jordanian controlled East Jerusalem was the Palestinian chief of the PLO Steering and Monitoring Committee until 12 February 2011...
as chief negotiator with Israel for the Middle East peace process following the release of the Palestine Papers
Palestine Papers
The Palestine Papers, representing publication of information hidden from public records and containing a cache of nearly 1,700 files, are the largest news leak in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They were released in January 2011 by Al-Jazeera...
, which were harshly critical of the PLO's concessions, the PLO Executive Committee announced intentions to hold elections before October.
Abbas's followed the announcement with calls for "the spirit of change in Egypt" to inspire Palestinian unity. His aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said: "The Palestinian leadership decided to hold presidential and legislative elections within September. It urges all the sides to put their differences aside."
Fawzi Barhoum, a spokeman for Hamas, said that Abbas does not have the legitimacy to make the electoral call. "Hamas will not take part in this election. We will not give it legitimacy. And we will not recognise the results."
Presidential election
Fatah renominated Abbas as their candidate for the next presidential elections in early June 2008, although reports in December suggested that he would not run for a second term. Rumours emerged again on 28 October, 2009 of Abbas not running for another term; on 5 November he publicly announced his intention not to run for reelection, though he said he would stay until the next presidential election.Mohamed Abutair has announced he will run as an independent candidate for the elections 2012 on a platform of 'Change for Peace in Palestine' .
Mohamed Abutair met with the Secretary General of Fatah's powerful Central Committee, Faruq al-Qadummi, to discuss the possible formation of a unity Palestinian Authority Government with Hamas under his leadership, should he become the new President pa election results 2010.