The CEC holds a series of meetings following the Court’s decision to halt local elections

Stemming from its mandate in conducting elections and its national responsibility as an independent and neutral Palestinian institution, the CEC has been keen on contributing to providing the proper environment necessary for the success of the electoral process by working tirelessly over the past months to hold elections in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip despite the internal political division.

However, upon the issuance of the Supreme Court decision to temporarily stop elections preparations, the CEC has bided by the decision and stopped all election activities until a final resolution by the Court is issued. Nevertheless, the CEC has continued to exert all efforts to contain the implications of the Court’s decision so that the temporarily halt of elections preparations will not entirely jeopardize any chances of holding elections in the near future.

In this context, the CEC Chairman, Dr. Hanna Nasir held a number of meetings with Mr. President, Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister, Dr. Rami Hamdullah, and separate meeting with leaders of Hamas and Fatah movements and representatives of all factions and Civil Society Organizations. The meetings aimed at seeking to provide the proper environment for holding elections at the earliest time possible in order to fulfill the elections mandate and revive the democratic process. 

Although the CEC realizes its key mission to conduct elections according to law, however, it also considers such meetings as part of its national responsibility in coordinating with all election stakeholders, mainly political factions, and to take all necessary procedures for the conduct of free and fair elections.

The CEC hopes to contribute in providing the environment for possible reconciliation between all parties, or at least to minimize the effects of political division to allow for the conduct of local elections in the hope that such step will pave the way for national unity and the conduct of general elections.