China News Agency, United Nations, January 16-UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through a spokesperson on the 16th, welcoming Palestinian President Abbas' announcement of the first comprehensive parliamentary and presidential elections in 15 years.
The election is scheduled to start in May.
Guterres stated in a statement that elections in all Palestinian administrative districts, including East Jerusalem, will be a key step in Palestinian unity. The elections will give new legitimacy to state institutions including the democratically elected parliament and government of Palestine.
Data map: UN Secretary General Guterres.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Xia Bin
The last election of the Palestinian Legislative Council was held in 2006. The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) defeated the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fattah) led by Abbas and won the majority of seats.
In 2007, Fatah and Hamas clashed.
Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, Fatah actually controlled the West Bank, and Palestine fell into division.
Guterres said that he hopes that the parliamentary elections planned in May and the presidential elections in July will help restart a process, based on the pre-1967 borders, adopted in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law. Negotiations reached a two-state solution.
The United Nations stands ready to provide support to all Palestinian efforts so that they can exercise all their democratic rights.
Guterres called on the Palestinian Authority to promote, strengthen and support women’s political participation throughout the electoral cycle.
According to media reports, Palestinian President Abbas signed a presidential decree in the West Bank city of Ramallah on the evening of the 15th to determine the timetable for holding general elections.
The general elections will include elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, presidential elections and the Palestine National Committee, the highest authority of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
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