Democratic Alliance List

Symbol of the Democratic Alliance List. The symbol resembles a dove in Palestinian national colours with the head shaped as the ballot symbol of the list, the letter Aleph. The text reads 'Palestine deserves the Democratic Alliance'.

The Democratic Alliance List (Arabic: قائمة التحالف الديمقراطي‎‎), also referred to as the Democratic Alliance Forces (قوى التحالف الديمقراطي) or just the Democratic Alliance (التحالف الديمقراطي), was launched ahead of the October 8, 2016 Palestinian local government elections, as a coalition consisting of five left-wing factions: the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Palestinian People's Party (PPP), the Palestinian Democratic Union (Fida), and the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI), along with several unaffiliated independent candidates.^[1][2][3][4] The alliance is led by a Central Committee and an Advisory Board.^[5] Mohammed Hamarsheh was named as coordinator of the Democratic Alliance List.^[6][7]

Launch

The coalition was presented at a press conference in Ramallah on August 10, 2016, chaired by Dr. Mustafa Barghouti (General Secretary PNI), Qais Abd al-Karim (Deputy General Secretary DFLP), Bassam as-Salhi (General Secretary PPP), Khalida Jarrar (PFLP), and Zahira Kamal (Fida).^[3] Jarrar stressed that the alliance would act as a third force, seeking to overcome the Fatah-Hamas dichotomy.^[3]

The candidature of the Democratic Alliance List was officially registered with the Central Election Commission on August 16, 2016, the first day of registrations.^[6][7][8] The coalition was assigned the letter Aleph (أ), the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, as its ballot symbol.^[6][7]

Campaign and lists

On the night of August 23, 2016, unknown gunmen reportedly opened fire on the residence of Nureddin Khalaf, top candidate of the Democratic Alliance List in Burqin municipality, Jenin Governorate.^[9]

On August 25, 2016, the Democratic Alliance List declared that it had submitted to the Central Election Commission its candidate lists for elections in the Gaza Strip.^[10] On the same day it was indicated that the Democratic Alliance List in the Nablus municipality would be headed by Majida Al-Masri.^[11][12] In the Jenin municipality, the Democratic Alliance List nominated PNI activist Mohammad Abu Al-Hija as its top candidate.^[13]

In the Al-Bireh municipality, the Democratic Alliance List declared that they were continuing the work of the previous 'Al-Bireh for All' list from past elections.^[14] Jamal Al-Nasar was named number-one on the list of the Democratic Alliance List in the municipality.^[14]

Postponement of polls

On September 8, 2016 the Ramallah High Court of Justice postponed the elections indefinitely.^[15] The Democratic Alliance List and its constituent parties criticized the court ruling.^[16]

References