RAMALLAH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday issued a decree setting Nov. 28 as the date for legislative elections, with presidential elections to be held in the first quarter of 2027, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
The decree calls on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza to participate in free and direct legislative elections to elect members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, WAFA reported.
According to WAFA, Abbas issued a decree amending the General Elections Law in mid-June, increasing the number of seats in the council to 200, lowering the electoral threshold to 1 percent, and raising the minimum number of candidates per list from 16 to 20.
The amendments also require at least one woman among every three candidates, and lower the minimum age for candidates from 28 to 23.
The last legislative elections were held in 2006. Subsequent polls have been postponed amid the political split between Fatah and Hamas. ■
