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THREAD no.4: Palestinian Legislative and Presidential Elections
Will Upcoming Elections Bring Any Change to the Palestinian People?
Three questions to Dr. Alaa Tartir https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/blog/will-upcoming-elections-bring-any-change-palestinian-people
Will Upcoming Elections Bring Any Change to the Palestinian People?
Three questions to Dr. Alaa Tartir https://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/blog/will-upcoming-elections-bring-any-change-palestinian-people
What can be expected from these elections?
Certainly, neither a democratic transition nor a reformation of the Palestinian political system. At best, it could result in a "nominal democracy" but the underpinning structures of repression and authoritarianism are well-rooted…
Certainly, neither a democratic transition nor a reformation of the Palestinian political system. At best, it could result in a "nominal democracy" but the underpinning structures of repression and authoritarianism are well-rooted…
I argue that it is crucial to acknowledge that any "democratic moment" (like the election) cannot and should not be conflated with "democratic processes" or "democratic environment". Any democratic practice cannot be really democratic within an overall authoritarian setting.
I also argue that celebrating the trappings of "democracy" is very different than celebrating "real democracy". It is like celebrating the trappings of statehood in the absence of state and sovereignty.
But this practice (the celebration of trappings) is a practice that the Palestinian political leadership is used to, and my fear is that this conflation could easily slip to the election domain.
Furthermore, I argue that although Abbas’ announcement determined the end of August 2021 as a date for the PNC election to take place - wherever possible -, it would be a mistake to think or believe that this was a genuine call for PLO/PNC elections.
All political parties are well aware of this reality, but they all decided to turn a blind eye concerning this crucial matter under the pretext that "any election is better than nothing". At best, we could see a replication of the 2018 scenario when the PNC convened in Ramallah.
Accordingly, with the intentional and unintentional assistance of other political factions, both Fatah and Hamas are preparing to emerge victorious from the forthcoming election regardless of who will win more seats.
The looming reality is that both Fatah and Hamas will continue to hold the vast majority of seats in the PLC instead of being punished and held accountable for all the damages and harm they have caused to the Palestinian struggle for self-determination over the past 15 years.
This begs the question: what is the point of an election that is perceived as both a means and an end, with no serious consideration to larger and more fundamental dimensions concerning the overall political system, strategy, and vision?
It is only when the existing dominant political actors stop re-enforcing each other and are instead held accountable that a glimpse of hope for a fundamental positive change will start to emerge. And then, the elections will have a different meaning and serve a different purpose.
