Ramallah: An opinion poll published today by Birzeit University's Development Studies Program, in an effort to gauge support for the various political parties in the upcoming January 2006 Legislative Elections, reaffirms growing levels of support amongst Palestinian voters for a coalitions of Palestinian National Initiative (PNI) and Independents
Poll results indicate that 8.2 percent of those surveyed intend to vote for the PNI coalition, led by Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi. Up to 46 percent of respondents registered their support for Fatah if led by Marwan Barghouthi and 36.1 percent if led by ahmad qurei , and 23 percent for Hamas. The coalition between the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, led by Ahmad Saadat, would get 2.5 percent of votes.
In terms of overall support for leading political personalities, Marwan Barghouthi obtained 42 percent of votes, followed by Mahmoud El-Zahar (18 percent), Mustafa Barghouthi (11 percent), Ismael Haneyeh (9 percent), Ahmad Qureia (8 percent), Hanan Ashrawi (5 percent), Salam Fayad (4 percent), Ahmad Saadat (2 percent), Basam El-Salhi (0.9 percent), and Kais Abu-Laila (0.6 percent).
When asked who was the most popular personality on the Palestinian street within each of the political parties, Marwan Barghouthi took first place amongst Fatah candidates with 42 percent votes, while Mahmoud El-Zahar of Hamas obtained a majority of 40 percent. Mustafa Barghouthi represented the strongest candidate among the democratic third way, taking 53 percent of all votes, ahead of Hanan Ashrawi (16 percent), Yaser Abed Rabbo (13 percent), Ahmad Saadat (11 percent), Basam El-Salhi (4 percent), Kais Abu-Laila (1.3 percent), Samer Ghousheh (1.2 percent), and Zahira Kamal (0.5 percent).
A previous poll conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research in September 2005, in a closed question contest for the position of PA president, Mahmoud Abbas (Fateh) comes first with
(44 percent), followed by mahmoud Zahhar (Hamas) with
(21 percent), and Dr. Mustafa Barghouti (PNI) with
(19 percent).
With regards to the most likely candidate for the position of Prime Minister, Marwan Barghouthi came first with 30 percent of votes, followed by Mahmoud El-Zahar
(22 percent), Mustafa Barghouthi (17 percent), and Ahmad Qureia and Mohammad Dahlan (8 percent each).
12/10/2005