Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas told Parliament on Wednesday he will not form a new government before January’s legislative elections.
”My opinion is that we should continue with this government and then, after the elections, we start with a totally new page,” he said.
Parliament passed a motion on October 3 calling on Abbas to appoint a new government as a result of the current administration’s failure to halt the security chaos in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Abbas believes that there is little point in forming a new government ahead of the start of the campaign for elections, which he confirmed will be held on January 25.
Under the regulations governing Palestinian elections, a transitional government must take charge from the start of campaigning and all candidates must step down from the government.
All but two members of Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia’s 24-member Cabinet are MPs.
Qureia told MPs that it is unrealistic to lay all the blame at the feet of his government.
”We are working very hard and worried about the security situation, but this is not a one-man job,” he said. ”Anybody who thinks that just one person can resolve the situation is very much mistaken.” — AFP
