Palestine starts technical meetings over preparations for polls

Ramallah, Jan 11 : The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (PCEC) has started technical meetings over preparations for the state’s first general elections after a 15-year hiatus.
Hana Nasser, chairman of PCEC, convened an online meeting on Sunday with the Comission’s members in the Gaza Strip to discuss the latest developments of the planned legislative and presidential elections, Xinhua news agency reported citing an official statement as saying.
Nasser said during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held in Ramallah on Saturday evening, he proposed to the latter several dates deemed suitable for holding the elections.
“Holding elections needs as long as 120 days after issuing suitable presidential decrees,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hisham Kuhail, executive director of the PCEC, said Abbas will issue a package of presidential decrees that will set the dates for the legislative and presidential elections, as well as for a vote for the Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
On Saturday evening, Abbas held a meeting with a delegation of PCEC in Ramallah, and agreed to issue his presidential decrees for holding elections before January 20.