Senegal's ruling PASTEF party claimed a decisive victory in legislative elections, securing a mandate for its reform agenda. Voting was peaceful, with 90-95% of ballots counted. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye's party reportedly outperformed opposition groups in early results, solidifying its dominance eight months after assuming power.

Senegal's Ruling PASTEF Party Claims Victory in Legislative Polls

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's leftist coalition secured a resounding victory in snap legislative elections, according to results released on Friday. The win reflects widespread public discontent with establishment parties, which voters blame for the country's ongoing economic crisis. Dissanayake's coalition's triumph marks a significant shift in Sri Lanka's political landscape, as citizens demand change and accountability.

Sri Lanka Elections: Non-NPP Strongholds Too Voted NPP in Snap Polls

Sri Lanka Elections: Big Inroads For NPP In Colombo, Southern Provinces

Sri Lanka Elections: Ruling NPP Secures Landslide Win In Snap Elections

Sri Lanka is set to vote in a snap general election on Thursday (Nov 14) called by its Marxist-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek a fresh mandate to back his policies in the debt-ridden island nation.&nbsp;

Dissanayake was elected as the president in September, however, his National People's Power (NPP) coalition gained only three of 225 seats in the parliament.

It prompted him to dissolve the legislature and seek a fresh mandate to continue his economic reforms.&nbsp;

Millions of voters in the economically-crippled nation have put their faith in Dissanayake's graft-fighting pledge and vowed to strengthen the economy.&nbsp;

"In past elections, people did not have confidence in us but in September people gave us victory and proved that we are a winning party and we can form a government," the incumbent president said during a campaign rally on Sunday.

"The next task is to unite people from the four corners of this country and build a powerful people's movement."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-president-dissanayake-pledges-to-return-state-grabbed-lands-to-tamils-775158">Also read:&nbsp;Sri Lanka's President Dissanayake pledges to return state-grabbed lands to Tamils</a>

<h2>How will the island nation elect its new parliament?</h2>

Sri Lanka's president&nbsp;dissolved parliament on September 24 to clear the way for the general election. It comes days after he was elected president on a platform for change.&nbsp;

The election then became necessary as Dissanayake had just three lawmakers in the outgoing parliament.&nbsp;

The campaigning for the snap elections ended on Monday (Nov 11) at midnight.&nbsp;

Sri Lanka has 17.1 million voters who will be voting tomorrow (Thursday). Moreover, around one million of them are first-time voters.

Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka Gears Up for Pivotal Elections Tomorrow

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<h2>Election process&nbsp;</h2>

Voting will begin at 7:00&nbsp;am (local time) and will end at 4:00 pm. The counting of votes will start right after the polling ends.&nbsp;

Voters directly elect 196 members to parliament from 22 constituencies under a proportional representation system. Meanwhile, the remaining 29 seats will be allocated as per the country's wide proportional vote obtained by each party.&nbsp;

Moreover, a voter can cast up to three preferential votes for candidates contesting from their choice of party.&nbsp;

After all this ends, the votes will be counted at polling stations by the government employees with heightened security. The process will be supervised by &nbsp;Election Commission officials, election monitors and representatives of candidates.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka is set to vote in a snap general election on Thursday (Nov 14) called by its Marxist-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek a fresh mandate to back his policies in the debt-ridden island nation.

Sri Lanka is set to vote in a snap general election on Thursday (Nov 14) called by its Marxist-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek a fresh mandate to back his policies in the debt-ridden island nation. Dissanayake was elected as the president in September, however, his National People's Power (NPP) coalition gained only three of 225 seats in the parliament. It prompted him to dissolve the legislature and seek a fresh mandate to continue his economic reforms. Millions of voters in the economically-crippled nation have put their faith in Dissanayake's graft-fighting pledge and vowed to strengthen the economy. "In past elections, people did not have confidence in us but in September people gave us victory and proved that we are a winning party and we can form a government," the incumbent president said during a campaign rally on Sunday. "The next task is to unite people from the four corners of this country and build a powerful people's movement." Also read: Sri Lanka's President Dissanayake pledges to return state-grabbed lands to Tamils How will the island nation elect its new parliament? Sri Lanka's president dissolved parliament on September 24 to clear the way for the general election. It comes days after he was elected president on a platform for change. The election then became necessary as Dissanayake had just three lawmakers in the outgoing parliament. The campaigning for the snap elections ended on Monday (Nov 11) at midnight. Sri Lanka has 17.1 million voters who will be voting tomorrow (Thursday). Moreover, around one million of them are first-time voters. Watch | Sri Lanka Gears Up for Pivotal Elections Tomorrow × Election process Voting will begin at 7:00 am (local time) and will end at 4:00 pm. The counting of votes will start right after the polling ends. Voters directly elect 196 members to parliament from 22 constituencies under a proportional representation system. Meanwhile, the remaining 29 seats will be allocated as per the country's wide proportional vote obtained by each party. Moreover, a voter can cast up to three preferential votes for candidates contesting from their choice of party. After all this ends, the votes will be counted at polling stations by the government employees with heightened security. The process will be supervised by Election Commission officials, election monitors and representatives of candidates. (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka set for snap polls on November 14: Here's how parliament is elected

All eyes are on the general elections in Sri Lanka as the campaign for the polls has ended. The island nation has now moved into a silent period, during which all campaign activities are prohibited until election day. Watch in for more details!

Poll Campaigning Ends for Sri Lanka General Elections

Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has urged supporters of the ruling Pastef party to take revenge for alleged violence against them during the campaign for a parliamentary election this Sunday. Watch this report for more details!

Senegal PM Calls For 'Vengeance' Against Attack on Supporters

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party scored a historic victory in the country’s parliamentary election on Sunday, with the result consolidating pro-Russian, anti-establishment forces in central Europe. Watch in for more details!

Austria's Far Right Party Achieves Highest Election Result

The voting process for Azerbaijan's snap parliamentary elections has officially ended, and the counting of votes is now underway. Watch in for more details!

Voting concludes in Azerbaijan's parliamentary elections, counting underway

Polls opened on Sunday (September 1) in Azerbaijan for a snap parliamentary election, the first since it regained full control of a former breakaway territory in a lightning offensive last year.

Azerbaijan holds a parliamentary election, 990 candidates in fray

North Macedonia’s conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE coalition declared victory Wednesday in both presidential and parliamentary elections. Watch in for more details!

North Macedonia's opposition declares victory in elections

North Macedonians go to polls to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections that can present a test for the Balkan state’s European Union ambitions. Watch in for more details!

North Macedonia votes in presidential runoff, parliamentary elections

Solomon Islands' incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare said that he would not stand for a new term, ending his pro-China rule of more than four years. Watch in for more details!

Solomon Islands PM says 'not competing' for new term

The incumbent prime minister of Solomon Islands was set to fall short of an outright election majority Monday, forcing the pro-Beijing Pacific leader to woo an unwieldy mix of potential coalition partners. Watch in for more details!

Solomon Islands Parliamentary Election: Pro-China PM set to fall short of majority

Polling is underway on Sunday for the parliamentary elections in the Maldives. People are voting to elect 93 members of the Maldivian Parliament also known as Majlis. The results of the polls will be announced later in the day. Watch in for more details!

Maldivian Parliamentary Elections 2024: Can Muizzu's party win parliamentary majority?

Maldivian Parliamentary Elections 2024: Why parliamentary majority is critical for Muizzu?

South Korean opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-Myung was stabbed in the neck and rushed to hospital for treatment on Tuesday, months ahead of a national parliamentary election. The country has a history of political violence dating back to its founding in 1948.

South Korea's main opposition leader stabbed in the neck in Busan

As Greece elects its new Parliament, voting has started. 300 seats are up for election, and roughly 10 million Greeks are able to participate in the process despite the country's sharp political divisions. Voter turnout this election season, which has just begun, has been relatively muted because no clear winner is expected.

Greece Election 2023: Polling stations open for Parliamentary elections

The island nation of Bahrain, which has been fighting dissent for ten years, conducted its&nbsp; parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, just hours after its official websites was taken over by hackers.&nbsp;Although the interior ministry did not specify which websites were hacked, neither Bahrain's official government website nor that of the national Bahrain News Agency were accessible online. Later, even after the news agency's website had been restored, access to Bahrain's election website from overseas was still blocked.

“Websites are being targeted to hinder the elections and circulate negative messages in desperate attempts that won’t affect the determination of citizens who will go to the polling stations,” the interior ministry said.

Internet users captured screenshots of a photo following the hack that claimed it was executed by a previously unidentified account named Al-Toufan, or "The Flood" in Arabic. Al-Toufan-affiliated social media posts said that the organisation targeted the parliament's website "because of the persecution carried out by the Bahraini authorities, and in implementation of the people's demand to boycott the sham elections."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/juxtapose-dramatic-expansion-of-bahrain-by-building-land-on-sea-1987-vs-2022-515720">Before and after images show dramatic expansion of Bahrain by building land on sea: 1987 vs 2022</a>

The election was broadcast on Bahraini state television, and 55 polling places around the nation were said to be operating "smoothly," according to the state-run news agency.

A few hours had passed before Bahrain's legislative and municipal elections when the incident took place. The 40 members of Bahrain's lower house of parliament, the Council of Representatives, are chosen by the people. The King of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-prays-for-suffering-peoples-of-the-middle-east-in-bahrain-531714">Bahrain</a>, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, appoints members to the Consultative Council, the upper house of the parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The island nation of Bahrain, which has been fighting dissent for ten years, conducted its parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, just hours after its official websites was taken over by hackers.

The island nation of Bahrain, which has been fighting dissent for ten years, conducted its parliamentary and local elections on Saturday, just hours after its official websites was taken over by hackers. Although the interior ministry did not specify which websites were hacked, neither Bahrain's official government website nor that of the national Bahrain News Agency were accessible online. Later, even after the news agency's website had been restored, access to Bahrain's election website from overseas was still blocked. “Websites are being targeted to hinder the elections and circulate negative messages in desperate attempts that won’t affect the determination of citizens who will go to the polling stations,” the interior ministry said. Internet users captured screenshots of a photo following the hack that claimed it was executed by a previously unidentified account named Al-Toufan, or "The Flood" in Arabic. Al-Toufan-affiliated social media posts said that the organisation targeted the parliament's website "because of the persecution carried out by the Bahraini authorities, and in implementation of the people's demand to boycott the sham elections." Also read | Before and after images show dramatic expansion of Bahrain by building land on sea: 1987 vs 2022 The election was broadcast on Bahraini state television, and 55 polling places around the nation were said to be operating "smoothly," according to the state-run news agency. A few hours had passed before Bahrain's legislative and municipal elections when the incident took place. The 40 members of Bahrain's lower house of parliament, the Council of Representatives, are chosen by the people. The King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, appoints members to the Consultative Council, the upper house of the parliament. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bahrain's official websites hacked, 'boycott polls' message posted amid voting for elections: Reports

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson conceded defeat and announced her resignation after an unprecedented right-wing and far-right bloc narrowly won Sunday's election.

Sweden Parliamentary Election: PM Magdalena Andersson resigns as right-wing parties win vote

Sweden’s right-wing opposition took the lead from the Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s camp in parliamentary elections. The election campaign has been dominated by traditionally right-wing issues, such as concerns about immigration, crime and an increase in gang shootings.

Sweden Parliamentary Election: Right wing bloc takes election lead

Speaking as he departed from Paris to visit French troops dispatched to Romania in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to voters on Tuesday to give him a "solid majority" in Sunday's parliamentary polls, warning against adding "French disorder to global disorder."

He said "the months ahead will be difficult" but called for people to back him in the name of "the higher national interest" and "common sense."

Macron's visit this week to Romania and neighbouring Moldova has come under fire at home, landing ahead of the second round of crucial parliamentary elections in which his centrist majority is at risk.

"Emmanuel Macron has planned a trip abroad for three days... after anaesthetising the campaign by refusing any debate, he saw the second round as a done deal," Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the left-wing NUPES alliance, told Le Parisien daily.

The incumbent had already been charged by opponents with sitting out April's presidential vote, bringing home a solid but unspectacular win against far-right chief Marine Le Pen.

Appearing to bet on a similar strategy in this month's parliamentary poll, his Ensemble (Together) alliance suffered in Sunday's first round while NUPES and the far-right made gains.

Projections suggest voters could hand Ensemble 255-295 seats in the second round -- uncomfortably low compared with the threshold for an absolute majority of 289.

Macron acknowledged on Tuesday the "disorder in our everyday lives," telling voters "you're already paying more for your gas, your petrol, your groceries, and the months ahead will be difficult."

"In these troubled times, the choice you have to make this Sunday is more crucial than ever," he added, calling on both people who voted for other candidates and non-voters to rally behind him.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-to-visit-saudi-arabia-in-july-plans-to-meet-with-mohammed-bin-salman-488137">Joe Biden to visit Saudi Arabia in July, plans to meet with Mohammed bin Salman</a>

While the campaign has been dominated by inflation and other economic impacts of the Ukraine war, the left is also trying to make it a referendum on Macron's plans to raise the minimum retirement age to 65 as part of a pension overhaul.

But all sides have struggled to get voters excited about the poll, with just 47.5 per cent turning out on Sunday, the lowest ever in a first-round parliament election.

Since reforms to the electoral calendar in the early 2000s, interest in the legislative vote -- which follows on the heels of the presidential poll -- has dwindled, as it has always given the head of state a handy majority.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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Speaking as he departed from Paris to visit French troops dispatched to Romania in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to voters on Tuesday to give him a "solid majority" in Sunday's parliamentary polls, warning against adding "French disorder to global disorder.

Speaking as he departed from Paris to visit French troops dispatched to Romania in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to voters on Tuesday to give him a "solid majority" in Sunday's parliamentary polls, warning against adding "French disorder to global disorder." He said "the months ahead will be difficult" but called for people to back him in the name of "the higher national interest" and "common sense." Macron's visit this week to Romania and neighbouring Moldova has come under fire at home, landing ahead of the second round of crucial parliamentary elections in which his centrist majority is at risk. "Emmanuel Macron has planned a trip abroad for three days... after anaesthetising the campaign by refusing any debate, he saw the second round as a done deal," Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the left-wing NUPES alliance, told Le Parisien daily. The incumbent had already been charged by opponents with sitting out April's presidential vote, bringing home a solid but unspectacular win against far-right chief Marine Le Pen. Appearing to bet on a similar strategy in this month's parliamentary poll, his Ensemble (Together) alliance suffered in Sunday's first round while NUPES and the far-right made gains. Projections suggest voters could hand Ensemble 255-295 seats in the second round -- uncomfortably low compared with the threshold for an absolute majority of 289. Macron acknowledged on Tuesday the "disorder in our everyday lives," telling voters "you're already paying more for your gas, your petrol, your groceries, and the months ahead will be difficult." "In these troubled times, the choice you have to make this Sunday is more crucial than ever," he added, calling on both people who voted for other candidates and non-voters to rally behind him. Also Read: Joe Biden to visit Saudi Arabia in July, plans to meet with Mohammed bin Salman While the campaign has been dominated by inflation and other economic impacts of the Ukraine war, the left is also trying to make it a referendum on Macron's plans to raise the minimum retirement age to 65 as part of a pension overhaul. But all sides have struggled to get voters excited about the poll, with just 47.5 per cent turning out on Sunday, the lowest ever in a first-round parliament election. Since reforms to the electoral calendar in the early 2000s, interest in the legislative vote -- which follows on the heels of the presidential poll -- has dwindled, as it has always given the head of state a handy majority. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Macron asks for ‘solid majority’ in Sunday’s parliamentary polls amid ‘troubled times’

Malta&nbsp;will&nbsp;hold&nbsp;a general&nbsp;election&nbsp;on&nbsp;March&nbsp;26, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday, adding that he would ask the president to dissolve parliament.

The government's five-year term ends in June and opinion polls say a vote is set to hand a third successive term to Abela's centre-left Labour Party.

"The future is bright because we're strong in the present," Abela told supporters at a rally in Floriana just outside&nbsp;Malta's capital Valletta.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-eu-first-malta-legalises-cannabis-at-home-and-for-personal-use-436963">In a EU first, Malta legalises cannabis at home and for personal use</a>

Abela has been prime minister and Labour leader since the resignation in January 2020 of Joseph Muscat, who led the party to landslide victories in 2013 and 2017.

Muscat resigned following the arrest of a top businessman, Yorgen Fenech, who was accused of complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017.

Media reported at the time that Muscat and his chief of staff were close friends of Fenech. Neither has been accused of involvement in the murder.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/september-21-in-history-from-france-becoming-republic-to-maltas-independence-329066">&nbsp;September 21 in history: From France becoming Republic to Malta's Independence</a>

Muscat and his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri have confirmed their friendships with Fenech but deny involvement or prior knowledge of the murder.

Despite Muscat's resignation and other controversies over government corruption, Labour remains popular thanks to a strong economy and generous assistance to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its chief rival, the Opposition centre right Nationalist Party has, meanwhile, seen three leaders in five years and is struggling to present itself as a united alternative government.

Watch |&nbsp;Malta to legalise cannabis for personal use, supporters hail decision

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The&nbsp;March&nbsp;26&nbsp;election&nbsp;will be held a week before Pope Francis is due to visit the Mediterranean island. Turnout at general&nbsp;elections is normally strong, exceeding 95 per cent.

Malta will hold a general election on March 26, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday, adding that he would ask the president to dissolve parliament. The government's five-year term ends in June and opinion polls say a vote is set to hand a third successive term to Abela's centre-left Labour Party.

Malta will hold a general election on March 26, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday, adding that he would ask the president to dissolve parliament. The government's five-year term ends in June and opinion polls say a vote is set to hand a third successive term to Abela's centre-left Labour Party. "The future is bright because we're strong in the present," Abela told supporters at a rally in Floriana just outside Malta's capital Valletta. Also read | In a EU first, Malta legalises cannabis at home and for personal use Abela has been prime minister and Labour leader since the resignation in January 2020 of Joseph Muscat, who led the party to landslide victories in 2013 and 2017. Muscat resigned following the arrest of a top businessman, Yorgen Fenech, who was accused of complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017. Media reported at the time that Muscat and his chief of staff were close friends of Fenech. Neither has been accused of involvement in the murder. Also read | September 21 in history: From France becoming Republic to Malta's Independence Muscat and his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri have confirmed their friendships with Fenech but deny involvement or prior knowledge of the murder. Despite Muscat's resignation and other controversies over government corruption, Labour remains popular thanks to a strong economy and generous assistance to businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its chief rival, the Opposition centre right Nationalist Party has, meanwhile, seen three leaders in five years and is struggling to present itself as a united alternative government. Watch | Malta to legalise cannabis for personal use, supporters hail decision The March 26 election will be held a week before Pope Francis is due to visit the Mediterranean island. Turnout at general elections is normally strong, exceeding 95 per cent.

Malta to hold parliamentary election on March 26

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday postponed planned parliamentary elections amid a dispute over voting in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem and splits in his Fatah party.

Abbas, 85, blamed Israel for uncertainty about whether it would allow the legislative election to proceed in Jerusalem as well as in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

The decision came three months after he announced the first national elections for 15 years in what was widely seen as a response to criticism of the democratic legitimacy of Palestinian institutions, including his own presidency.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="Israel pilgrimage stampede: At least 44 killed in biggest Covid-era gathering">Israel pilgrimage stampede: At least 44 killed in biggest Covid-era gathering</a>

The outcome of an election could be gains for Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza. Abbas`s chief domestic rival, Hamas is regarded as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and European Union but fought a well-organised campaign to defeat a similarly divided Fatah in 2006.

The dispute over Jerusalem was the principal reason cited by Abbas in a speech early Friday following a meeting of Palestinian political factions.

"Facing this difficult situation, we decided to postpone the date of holding legislative elections until the participation of Jerusalem and its people is guaranteed," Abbas said in the speech on Palestinian TV.

The delay of the parliamentary elections set for May is likely to draw intense domestic criticism, with Abbas and his allies weakened by challengers from within his own divided Fatah party.

It was not immediately clear whether a presidential vote scheduled for July would go ahead.

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission said it was suspending the election process following Abbas`s decision. The election campaign was supposed to begin on Friday.

Protesters in Gaza and the West Bank called for the elections to proceed as scheduled - for many it would be their first election.

"As a young Palestinian citizen, I call for conducting elections, and I want my right to elect so I would see new faces, young faces, and see new political stances," said Wael Deys, from Hebron.

Hamas criticised the reversal.

"We reject this decision which violates the national consensus, and Fatah movement bears responsibility for the consequences of this position," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

Abbas had hinted at the delay for weeks by claiming that Israel had not agreed to permit East Jerusalem Palestinians to vote in the city.

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said earlier this week that there had been no formal Israeli announcement on whether it would allow Palestinian voting in Jerusalem - as it did during the last elections in 2006 - and Israeli officials said on Thursday that there had been no change.

But many Palestinians regard the Jerusalem issue as an excuse to avoid elections that a divided Fatah might well lose to Hamas.

Internal divisions surfaced in Abbas`s Fatah party when jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and Nasser Al-Qudwa - a nephew of the party`s late founder Yasser Arafat - announced a rival slate of candidates to run against Abbas`s official lineup.

Nevertheless, election preparations were well under way, with thousands of new voters and three dozen party lists registered.

"The delay will cause a great disappointment among Palestinians, who most of them hoped it was time to end the divisions and bring about a change," said Gaza analyst Talal Okal.

Abbas has been in power since 2005 and has ruled by decree for over a decade.

The timing of his election announcement was seen as aimed at repairing ties with US&nbsp;President Joe Biden after they plummeted under predecessor Donald Trump.

But analysts say that with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict low on Biden's priority list, Washington prefers to avoid elections that could empower Hamas and anger Israel as US&nbsp;officials press ahead on nuclear talks with Iran.

Israel has been making it clear that it prefers an election delay, fearing its coordination with Abbas`s security forces in the West Bank would be undermined by the vote, said Shibley Telhami of the Brookings Institution.

"(To) the extent that Biden was prepared to confront Israel, his top priority has been the Iran nuclear deal," Telhami said, adding that, among other factors, "this appeared to have weighed in on the Biden administration, with reduced enthusiasm for the election."

State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday: "The exercise of democratic elections is a matter for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian leadership to determine."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday postponed planned parliamentary elections amid a dispute over voting in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem and splits in his Fatah party.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday postponed planned parliamentary elections amid a dispute over voting in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem and splits in his Fatah party. Abbas, 85, blamed Israel for uncertainty about whether it would allow the legislative election to proceed in Jerusalem as well as in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The decision came three months after he announced the first national elections for 15 years in what was widely seen as a response to criticism of the democratic legitimacy of Palestinian institutions, including his own presidency. Also read: Israel pilgrimage stampede: At least 44 killed in biggest Covid-era gathering The outcome of an election could be gains for Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza. Abbas`s chief domestic rival, Hamas is regarded as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and European Union but fought a well-organised campaign to defeat a similarly divided Fatah in 2006. The dispute over Jerusalem was the principal reason cited by Abbas in a speech early Friday following a meeting of Palestinian political factions. "Facing this difficult situation, we decided to postpone the date of holding legislative elections until the participation of Jerusalem and its people is guaranteed," Abbas said in the speech on Palestinian TV. The delay of the parliamentary elections set for May is likely to draw intense domestic criticism, with Abbas and his allies weakened by challengers from within his own divided Fatah party. It was not immediately clear whether a presidential vote scheduled for July would go ahead. The Palestinian Central Elections Commission said it was suspending the election process following Abbas`s decision. The election campaign was supposed to begin on Friday. Protesters in Gaza and the West Bank called for the elections to proceed as scheduled - for many it would be their first election. "As a young Palestinian citizen, I call for conducting elections, and I want my right to elect so I would see new faces, young faces, and see new political stances," said Wael Deys, from Hebron. Hamas criticised the reversal. "We reject this decision which violates the national consensus, and Fatah movement bears responsibility for the consequences of this position," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters. Abbas had hinted at the delay for weeks by claiming that Israel had not agreed to permit East Jerusalem Palestinians to vote in the city. A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said earlier this week that there had been no formal Israeli announcement on whether it would allow Palestinian voting in Jerusalem - as it did during the last elections in 2006 - and Israeli officials said on Thursday that there had been no change. But many Palestinians regard the Jerusalem issue as an excuse to avoid elections that a divided Fatah might well lose to Hamas. Internal divisions surfaced in Abbas`s Fatah party when jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and Nasser Al-Qudwa - a nephew of the party`s late founder Yasser Arafat - announced a rival slate of candidates to run against Abbas`s official lineup. Nevertheless, election preparations were well under way, with thousands of new voters and three dozen party lists registered. "The delay will cause a great disappointment among Palestinians, who most of them hoped it was time to end the divisions and bring about a change," said Gaza analyst Talal Okal. Abbas has been in power since 2005 and has ruled by decree for over a decade. The timing of his election announcement was seen as aimed at repairing ties with US President Joe Biden after they plummeted under predecessor Donald Trump. But analysts say that with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict low on Biden's priority list, Washington prefers to avoid elections that could empower Hamas and anger Israel as US officials press ahead on nuclear talks with Iran. Israel has been making it clear that it prefers an election delay, fearing its coordination with Abbas`s security forces in the West Bank would be undermined by the vote, said Shibley Telhami of the Brookings Institution. "(To) the extent that Biden was prepared to confront Israel, his top priority has been the Iran nuclear deal," Telhami said, adding that, among other factors, "this appeared to have weighed in on the Biden administration, with reduced enthusiasm for the election." State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday: "The exercise of democratic elections is a matter for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian leadership to determine."

Palestinian parliamentary elections delayed, says Abbas, blaming Israel

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