Palestine will hold general elections for the first time in 15 years. A decree to this effect was issued by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Under the decree, legislative elections will be held on 22 May 2021, while the presidential election will be held on 31 July 2021. The Palestinian legislative assembly elections will result in the formation of a 120-seat parliament. Voting will take place in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Members of the assembly will also become members of the Palestinian National Council, which is due to be formed on 31 August 2021. Elections for the PLO’s National Council will be held in countries where Palestinian communities live.
Abbas came to the decision to hold democratic elections “wherever possible” after a meeting with Central Election Commission head Hannu Nasir. The president instructed the CEC to start election campaigning in all provinces of the country, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The last elections in Palestine were held in 2006. It was won by Hamas. The incumbent president was elected in 2005.