Election Update No.13

Date: 21 January 2006

Violations of Electoral Campaigns Regulations

PNA Officials Participate in Election Campaigns

PCHR has noticed the involvement of security and civil officials of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in election campaigns of some candidates and electoral lists.  This involvement constitutes a violation of the Elections Law No. 9 of 2005, whose article 59-3 prescribes that "the Executive Authority and all the bodies affiliated thereto shall maintain an impartial position during all of the phases of the election process and shall not perform any electoral or campaign activity that might be construed as favoring one candidate or electoral list over another."

For instance, an official from the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs manages the election campaign of Fatah in Rafah and is aided by the deputy director of Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in the town.  Committees have also been formed in civil and security institutions to support the candidates of Fatah.

PCHR calls upon the PNA and its executive bodies to comply with the regulations of the election campaigns and stop such campaigning actions. 

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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