The first phase of the Palestinian local authorities’ elections is almost over, and according to initial results, Fatah has taken most of the seats, while Hamas finished second. “We do not have the statistics, and it is not our responsibility to announce how many won from each party,” said Palestinian Minister of Local Governance Jamal A-Shubaki at a press conference on Sunday. A-Shubaki added that the results will be publicized soon.
These elections were for 26 local authorities. According to initial results, Fatah won the majority of seats in 17 municipalities, and Hamas won in the remaining nine.
Eighty-one percent of Palestinians eligible to vote participated in the elections. “This large turn-out of citizens in this democratic process, is a message to the whole world, that the Palestinian people wants to live in peace and freedom with no occupation, and it is its right to determine its own fate and to establish its independent state,” said A-Shubaki.
The ratio of women participating in the elections did not go unnoticed. 49.79 percent of the voters and 16% of the candidates were women, said the minister.
The first stage of the local elections will be completed in January 2005. It will include ten councils in the Gaza Strip. The second stage will be conducted in April 2005, with about 50% of all local authorities in the Palestinian territories.