The President of Palestine issues a decision to enhance the representation of youth and women in local councils.

The Palestinian news agency reported on Wednesday that President Mahmoud Abbas issued a law concerning local elections that allows for broader youth participation and enhances the presence of women.

The agency mentioned that the decision pertains to the elections of local authority councils and was issued based on a draft law presented by the Palestinian Cabinet.

The president has the right to issue decisions with the force of law in the absence of the dissolved Palestinian Legislative Council, which was disbanded by a decision from the Constitutional Court (in Ramallah) since December 2018.

According to "Wafa," the law aims "to enhance the legal framework governing the electoral process in local authorities and to ensure its integrity."

The law established an individual electoral system to be applied in village councils, and an open proportional list system for municipal councils, after nominations were previously made in both based on proportional representation.

It also approved lowering the legal age for candidacy for membership in local authority councils to 23 years (instead of 25) in order to expand youth participation in candidacy.

Additionally, it established mechanisms to ensure an increase in the representation of women in local authority councils, as well as technical procedures to regulate the electoral process and ensure its transparency and integrity, and to achieve the principles of justice and democracy, according to "Wafa."

In 2021, local elections were held in the West Bank in two phases, while the Cabinet issued a decision to postpone holding local elections in Gaza "until suitable conditions are available."

On November 3, "Wafa" reported that the Ministry of Local Government announced that municipal councils would transition to caretaker status starting December 11 until municipal elections are held, due to the end of the electoral term after four years.