Independent Palestine head, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, today criticized attempts by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to interfere in the Legislative election process and in the work of the Central Elections Commission (CEC) for its own gains.
His statement came in response to moves by the PA to pressure the CEC into allowing security personnel and their families to vote in the areas in which they work and not in the centres in which they are registered to vote, as the CEC had previously decided.
Dr. Barghouthi underlined that such moves impinge upon the independence and work of the CEC. He attributed the motive behind such attempts as efforts by the PA to secure an extra 100,000 votes, affecting the outcome of elections in favour of the governing Fatah party, which dominates the PA.
Independent Palestine calls upon the PA to revoke the decision, to cease all interference in the work of the CEC, and to ensure that elections are truly free and democratic.