Hamas: Extension of term “unconstitutional”

Oct 6, 2008

Hamas: Extension of term “unconstitutional”

Hamas-affiliated legal officials reassert that it is “unconstitutional” for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to extend his term for “even one more day” beyond 8 January 2009. The head of the legal committee of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Faraj Al-Ghoul presented a report to a session of the PLC held by Hamas lawmakers in Gaza on Monday. The report concludes that when Abbas’ terms expires, the position of president will become vacant, and PLC Speaker Aziz Ad-Dweik will be acting president for a period of sixty days, until Presidential elections can be held. While Abbas’ Fatah party claims that new presidential elections can only be held simultaneously with new legislative elections. Consequently, the president can extend his term until January 2010, when parliamentary elections are called for.

Read: Maan News, “Hamas: Extending Abbas’ term ‘even one more day’ is unconstitutional,” 6 October 2008, http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=32363.

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