The CEC held a meeting with representatives of the various national political parties and factions, including Hamas, to discuss local elections in light of the recent reconciliation agreement.
Dr. Hanna Nasir, the Chairman of the CEC, briefed the representatives on the available options regarding local elections and informed them of the minimum amount of time required by elections law to prepare for elections in the Gaza Strip. Dr. Nasir referred to the letter he sent the Prime Minister on 7 May 2011 concerning this issue. The representatives offered a number of suggestions, including postponing or rescheduling the elections. At the end of the meeting, the Chairman informed those in attendance that the CEC was expecting an answer from the Prime Minister before the beginning of the nomination period, scheduled for 25 May 2011.