Hamas called Wednesday the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to seriously work on creating an atmosphere of peace and transparency for the success of local elections.
Hamas’s remarks came during a meeting with a delegation from the Central Elections Commission chaired by Hanna Nasser. Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya Bassem Na’im Essam al-Da’alis and Fawzi Barhoum were in attendance.
The group called for the need to generate an atmosphere of transparency and democracy.
Political bureau member of Hamas Khalil al-Hayya pushed for cancelling all resolutions recently issued by Abbas as regards local elections and to implement the electoral decree agreed upon by the Palestinians in 2005. Al-Hayya pushed for practical solutions to that very end.
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum denounced the crackdowns and intimidation pursued by Fatah and the Abbas-chaired PA all the way through the electoral process.
“However Hamas has always shown commitment to national laws and decrees” said Barhoum.
The Hamas leader leveled criticism at Abbas for canceling local elections and changing decrees in such a volatile and unilateral manner.
“Fatah has often monopolized decision-making and excluded non-affiliates from the democratic process” he added.
The Central Elections Commission deferred municipal elections which were slated to be held on October 10 2016 after the PA ministerial council issued instructions for a four-month delay on claims of non-finalized legal and judicial procedures.
Recently the PA announced its decision to hold local elections on May 13 2017 nationwide. Hamas firmly rebuffed the decision dubbing it “a sign of monolithism” and “partisanship.”
