On Saturday 16 January, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service described the action by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the previous day in issuing a decree-law for legislative, presidential and National Council elections to be held in the next few months as a “welcome development”.
“Participatory, representative and accountable democratic institutions are essential to self-determination and state-building for the Palestinians”, he said in a statement. A general election will be held on 22 May, followed by a presidential election on 31 July and elections to the Palestinian National Council on 31 August. These will be the first elections since 2006.
The EEAS spokesman stated that the EU had “consistently” supported and financed the work of the Central Electoral Commission in recent years in order to prepare for free, fair and open elections for all Palestinians. This support amounts to €8.9 million to date.
The EU is ready to engage with relevant actors to support the electoral process, added the spokesperson. He also called on the Israeli authorities to facilitate the holding of elections in all Palestinian territories. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)