Fatah Claims Sweeping Victory in 2026 Palestinian Local Elections Amid Process Criticisms

The Fatah movement announced that its “Resilience and Giving” lists won the majority of seats in the West Bank’s 2026 local and village council elections. The Central Elections Commission (CEC) recorded 197 municipal and village councils formed by consensus, covering major municipalities such as Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Tulkarm, Salfit and Al-Bireh.

Fatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its programThe Jerusalem Post

President Mahmoud Abbas promoted 2026 as the “year of Palestinian democracy,” a pledge tied to the elections. The process required candidates to recognize Israel, endorse a two-state solution and accept the PLO program, thereby excluding Hamas and other groups. Key participants include Fatah, the Palestinian Authority (PA), the CEC, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and local critic Marwan Ennabi.

The Jerusalem PostFatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its program

The CEC reported voter turnout of 53.44 % (Jpost) and 53.5 % (WAFA). Fatah described this as consistent with prior elections. In Nablus, Ramallah and other cities only a single list was submitted, granting automatic victories. Qalqilya recorded no registered slates.

The Jerusalem Post

Fatah called the outcome a public referendum endorsing its program and a qualitative shift in Palestinian democracy. The PA hailed the vote as fulfillment of Abbas’s promise and emphasized public resilience amid political and economic challenges. Fatah announced that the local elections will be followed by its eighth conference next month and by Palestinian National Council elections in November.

Fatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its programThe Jerusalem Post

Experts, activists and international media highlighted procedural shortcomings. Marwan Ennabi, speaking from Qalqilya, said, “This isn’t transparency. This is chaos.” Observers noted the lack of competition where single-list ballots prevailed, the exclusion of Hamas despite armed Hamas police surrounding polling stations, and the absence of any slates in several locales.

The Jerusalem Post

Turnout figures differ slightly between sources (53.44 % vs. 53.5 %). Detailed vote counts for individual councils were not released, and the process by which consensus was reached for the 197 councils remains unclear. No data were provided on rejected or invalid ballots.

Fatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its program

• “The movement said the results mark a qualitative shift in the path of Palestinian democracy, adding that 2026 represents a “year of Palestinian democracy” launched by President Mahmoud Abbas.” — Fatah statement

Fatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its program

• “Fatah said the elections reflect public resilience in the face of political and economic challenges, and reaffirm commitment to democratic processes as part of the broader national struggle.” — Fatah statement

Fatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its program

• “This isn’t transparency. This is chaos.” — Marwan Ennabi, Palestinian

The Jerusalem Post

Fatah’s eighth conference is set for the month after the elections, and the Palestinian National Council will hold elections in November, marking the next phase of the PA’s announced democratic timeline.

Fatah says it secured sweeping victory in local elections, calls results public endorsement of its program