RAMALLAH, April 25, 2026 (WAFA) – The European Union and its member states, along with several like-minded countries, welcomed the holding of the Palestinian local elections, which began on Saturday, despite the difficult circumstances.
In a joint position, the countries—including the European Union, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United —said the elections provide Palestinians with an opportunity to elect local councils and renew their democratic legitimacy.
They noted that, at the invitation of the Central Elections Commission, representatives from their diplomatic missions would be present on the ground to monitor the electoral process.
They stressed the importance of holding transparent, credible, and inclusive elections, welcoming this round as an important step towards expanding democracy and strengthening local governance in general, in line with the ongoing reform process.
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