All factions represented within the PLO in Nablus will run for local elections on a combined list, except for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Palestinian People's Party (PPP), a statement from the body read Sunday.
Following a series of meetings between PLO factions, an agreement was reached to unify a list for the Nablus municipal and council elections, the statement read, the first that will be held across the region, set for mid July.
Senior PFLP leader in Nablus Zahi Shashtiri told Ma'an that his movement opted out of the deal, calling for "democratic elections and not an agreement on a combined list," saying his faction should "play a major role in electing those who will offer services to citizens."
The party will have its own list, Shashtiri explained, "comprised of faction affiliates as well as independent members. This list will be submitted [to the Central Elections Commission] in a few days."
A second PLO faction is also expected not take part in the Fatah-lead combined list, with PPP leaders explaining that a news conference would be held at Nablus' Watan Media Center at midday to announce their decision on local elections.
According to the joint PLO statement, the combined list includes:
Fatah
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP)
The Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA)
The Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF)
The Arab Liberation Front (ALF)
The Palestinian Arab Front (PAF)
The Palestinian Liberation Front (PLF)
Numerous independent political figures
On Monday, The Central Elections Commission (CEC) said it concluded all preparations for the registration and nominations of electoral lists for the 2010 local elections in the West Bank, with polling day set for 17 July.
The body said has trained nomination staff in all West Bank districts, conducted a number of training workshops for representatives of political parties to explain nomination procedures, published the final voter registry and provided copies of it to accredited political parties, a statement read.
The CEC will start receiving nomination applications as of Tuesday until Thursday 10 June in all district offices. According to CEC regulations, all political parties, coalitions or groups are entitled to form electoral lists for purpose of nomination for the membership in local councils.
A list that wishes to be registered and eligible for nomination,the statement said, has to submit to the CEC a nomination application form which may be obtained from the Central Elections Office in Ramallah, CEC district offices or online through the Commission’s web site.
As soon as the CEC processes nomination applications, it will publish the preliminary list of candidates on 12 June for three days at the district offices and local councils in each district so as to enable lists to verify their information and voters to object to the nomination of any list or candidate.
"On this occasion, the CEC calls on all citizens, political parties and civil society organizations to cooperate with its staff to ensure a free and fair elections," the statement read.
The electoral process officially began in March with voter registration, and proceeded to the nomination process between 1 and 10 June. Campaigning will be from 3 to 15 July until elections are held on 17 July, decreed by President Mahmoud Abbas.
But as the election campaigns kicked off, Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they would be boycotting local elections, which will only take place in the West Bank.
The CEC said that it deemed it unfeasible to hold local elections or update the registry list in the Gaza Strip, resulting from Israel's siege and consequent travel restrictions on the coastal enclave.
De facto government Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh quickly rejected the Palestinian Authority's plans for local elections in the West Bank after they were announced, describing it as a step that would deepen political divisions.
Speaking to lawmakers at the war-damaged Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) building in Gaza in March, Haniyeh urged the PA "not to carry out any procedures that would deepen the division."
He asked the PA to hold off on the elections planned for July until such time as a simultaneous vote can be held in Gaza, and to leave the existing municipal councils in West Bank in office.
"We refuse to hold local elections before achieving national reconciliation," Haniyeh said.
Hamas boycotted a meeting held in February aimed at discussing municipal elections, with one spokesperson saying the movement objected to the decision to hold municipal elections, because it was made unconstitutionally by an unelected government and without the consultation of Gaza officials.
The last set of municipal elections were held in the West Bank and Gaza in 2006.
The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR) said in February that the current state of Palestinian political disunity is an obstacle to holding transparent elections in July 2010, rejecting the electoral process "results are known in advance," which it said is currently the case. Local elections, called for by the Ramallah-based cabinet, may only be held in the West Bank and not in Gaza on the same date, " a fact which the Government in Ramallah realizes."
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