RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- President Mahmoud Abbas revised Palestinian election laws on Sunday to favor his moderate Fatah Party, his latest attempt to sideline Hamas since the Islamic militant group seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.
Under the decree, Palestinians will now vote solely for party lists, while district voting will be eliminated. Hamas swept parliamentary elections last year in large part because it had a strong showing at the district level, while Fatah candidates split the party's vote.
The decree also requires candidates to recognize the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organization as the ''sole, legitimate representative'' of the Palestinian people. The Islamic militant group Hamas, which is not a PLO member, condemned Abbas' decision as illegal.
Despite the bold move to shore up his party's position, Abbas aides acknowledged he will not be schedule new elections until he can ensure voting will take place in both Gaza and the West Bank. With Hamas firmly in control of Gaza following a June takeover, that will not happen anytime soon.
Fatah ruled Palestinian politics unopposed for four decades, but people chafed under the corrupt and high-handed tactics of party officials. As a result, Hamas swept Fatah out of power in January 2006 elections and formed its first government.
After Hamas' takeover of Gaza, Abbas kicked the group out of the government and formed a new, pro-Western government based in the West Bank. He also has announced plans for new elections, though no date has been set. Regular parliamentary elections are not scheduled until 2010.
In the 2006 elections, half the seats were chosen on a national list and the other half by districts. While the national voting appeared to be close, election officials said Hamas had won a large majority in the district races. Hamas apparently took advantage of divisions in Fatah; the long-ruling party fielded multiple candidates in many districts, splitting the Fatah vote.
In a further blow to Hamas, the new election law calls for a runoff in presidential elections until a candidate receives an absolute majority. The change would make it far more difficult for Hamas to capitalize on divisions among secular parties.
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum rejected the changes. ''Hamas objects to this policy of monopolizing decision making and will not deal with its outcome,'' he said.
Barhoum said only the parliament, which is controlled by Hamas, has the authority to change election law. But Abbas said he now holds such authority since parliament is no longer functioning.
Israel has arrested nearly 40 Hamas lawmakers, leaving the group unable to muster the quorum needed for a parliamentary session.
Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, seen as a potential successor to Abbas, urged the Islamic group to accept early elections to settle internal Palestinian differences.
Barghouti, who is serving five consecutive life terms for murder in an Israeli prison, said in written answers to questions passed to him by his lawyer that Hamas is the only exception to a national consensus on holding early elections.
The answers were given to The Associated Press on Monday.
''The military coup carried out by Hamas dealt a big blow to the nascent democratic experience,'' he said. ''We should head toward presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time. ... Hamas should approve these elections.''
0 Have Your Say!:
Post a Comment