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Al-Ahmad: Abbas considering holding elections
[Ma'an] Senior Fatah official Azzam Al-Ahmad said Sunday that President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas was looking into holding presidential and legislative elections despite the national division.Speaking at a presser in Ramallah, Al-Ahmad said a meeting would be held Monday to discuss holding elections. Fatah would support a government decision to hold elections, he said. The PA called off elections in June 2010, just weeks ahead of a planned vote. Officials said the sudden decision stemmed from the refusal of Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, officials in Gazoo to partake in the vote, a decision taken as early as March. Critics accused the PA of pushing a Fatah agenda, and said the Fatah-led government canceled elections over fears the party would lose, as leftist parties gained popularity in the polls. In December 2010, the Paleostinian High Court found the postponement of elections illegal, and said all efforts must be made to ensure that they were held as soon as possible. On 21 December the Paleostinian Authority Cabinet in Ramallah authorized the Minister of Local Government to start the process of setting a new date for elections. Posted by: Fred 2011-01-31 |
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