Hanna Nasser, chairman of the Central Elections Commission, speaking at a press conference in Ramallah on local elections that commenced on Saturday in 145 West Bank localities. (WAFA photo/Mustafa Abu Dayyeh)

RAMALLAH, May 13, 2017 (WAFA) – It is possible to hold local elections at different stages and not at one time, Hanna Nasser, chairman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), said on Saturday.

He expressed hope that local councils’ elections, which started on Saturday in the West Bank, could be held in Gaza as well at a future date.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is not allowing elections in Gaza and is boycotting the West Bank elections.

Nasser said elections will also be held in the near future in 65 local councils in the West Bank where residents either did not submit a list for their councils or their lists did not meet the CEC criteria.

Of the 65, nine localities submitted incomplete lists and 56 had none nominated.

If these councils fail to submit a list at the second stage, then the government will appoint their representative council members.

Elections will not be held in 181 councils, which submitted only one complete list of candidates and as a result these lists will be automatically announced as winners.

M.K.