The Palestinian National Initiative Condemns Reactionary policies in the PLC

21 April 2005

The Palestinian National Initiative condemns the Palestinian Legislative Council decision to refuse to adopt the new electoral system, in which half the seats are reserved to represent the parties proportionally, and half are voted in based on a majority system.  This decision will minimize the role of women and does not allow them to be represented in proportion to their role and influence in society.  The law also does not open the door for young people to participate and will perpetuate the “civil registration system” which allows people who have not registered to vote anyway, and which resulted in confusion and possible fraud in the presidential elections.

The PNI believes we should reform the current system in order to ensure free and democratic elections.  The PNI believes that the above laws have been voted on by the PLC in order to serve the interests of the incumbent members so that they will be re-elected and their membership will remain virtually unchanged.  They do not want women, youth, more candidates, or more parties to interfere with their agenda to remain in their positions.

Instead of this reactionary and rigid system, the Palestinians should adopt modern elections laws.  The PNI has called the Palestinian Council of Ministers as well as the Palestinian President to encourage them to reject these PLC decisions.  The PNI calls for a popular movement to instate modern and democratic elections laws with a bicameral legislature, half proportional and half voted by majority.  The PNI also calls for a quota of at least 20% for women and to reduce the minimum age of candidates from 30 to 25.  The civil registration system must also be ended.

The PNI sends warm thanks and regards to those PLC members who have rejected the PLC decisions and adopted the view of 450 parties and civil society organizations that changes toward modernization and democracy in the Palestinian governing system are long overdue.