Local Governance: Municipal Councils Will Transition to Managing Affairs Starting December 11 in Preparation for Elections

SadaNews - The Director General of the General Administration for Organizations and Elections at the Ministry of Local Governance, Basem Hdaideh, clarified today, Monday, that municipal councils will transition to managing affairs starting from December 11 until the municipal council elections are held.

Hdaideh added in an interview with 'Wafa' that based on the end of the electoral cycle on December 11, a decision must be made by the Cabinet regarding the elected local bodies whose term has ended after four years, and thus the committees in the councils will act in a managing capacity starting from the 11th of next month, according to the law, and will continue to operate until municipal council elections are conducted by a decision from the Cabinet.

He pointed out that the Minister of Local Governance, Sami Hijawi, has submitted a recommendation to the Cabinet to make the decision to convert the municipal councils to managing affairs - according to the law.

Regarding local authority councils managed by committees tasked with managing affairs - which were dissolved due to loss of eligibility and legal quorum - they will continue to perform their duties until the elections are held, and they are not covered by the decision affecting the terminated councils.

As for conducting the municipal elections, Hdaideh stated, "There is no specific date for holding the elections, and we expect the approval of the new local council election law after it is endorsed by President Mahmoud Abbas."

He expressed hope that the upcoming elections will be held according to the new law after its endorsement.