Gaza (Ma'an) – Hamas completed preparations for the first session of the new Palestinian Legislative Council scheduled for Saturday.
Newly appointed Hamas PLC bloc spokesman, Salah Bardawil, announced the names of Hamas candidates for the PLC presidency and two deputies and secretaries.
He said that the Hamas candidate for the PLC presidency is Dr. Aziz Dweik from the West Bank. For the two deputy positions, Hamas will run Dr. Ahmed Bahar from the Gaza Strip and Dr. Hasan Khreisha of the West Bank. The party will run Mahmoud Ramahi for the position of second secretary.
The spokesman confirmed that Dr. Mahmoud Az Zahar was chosen to head the Hamas bloc in the PLC, but said there is a small chance this decision will be changed at the last minute.
Bardawil assumed his position as official spokesman on Tuesday.
The PLC session will be opened by the head of the Palestinian National Council, Salim Zanoun, who will be accompanied by former PLC head Rawhi Fattouh. The two men will receive Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who will deliver a televised speech before leaving the session.
The session will be connected between the West Bank and Gaza Strip through video conference equipment.
Zanoun will lead the new PLC members in the oath of office and will call for the oldest member, 75 year old Abdul Fateh Dukhan, to head the session with the youngest member, 30 year old Mushir Al Masri, acting as secretary.
Dukhan will oversee internal PLC elections to choose the parliamentary president and two deputies. After the voting, the newly elected officials will take their position officially.
Bardawil expects all PLC members to attend the session and that no policy discussions will take place.