Al Wafaa’ Islamic Bloc secures majority in Birzeit University Student Council Elections

Al Wafaa’ Islamic Bloc has won 24 out of 51 seats in Birzeit University’s Student Council elections, held on May 9, 2018.  The Martyr Yasser Arafat bloc got 23 seats and the Democratic Progressive Student Pole claimed 4 seats. The Student Unity Bloc was unable to secure any seats. 

Head of the Elections Preparatory Committee and Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Mohammad Al-Ahmad said that 8404 out of 11265 eligible student voters participated in the elections, with voting rates at 74.6 percent.  The number of invalid votes was 113, and 91 of the cast ballots were blank.

President of Birzeit University Dr. Abdullatif Abuhijleh praised the participation of students and their commitment to the democratic process. “Today, we conclude this celebration of democracy, in which Birzeit University’s community has proven once again that it is capable of holding transparent, democratic elections. The university went above and beyond to create an environment fit for its Student Council elections, which are widely held as the epitome of transparency and integrity,” said Dr. Abuhijleh.

“This is not the end,” added Dr. Abuhijleh, “but the start of activities and events that serve Birzeit University and its students.” 

A student debate between the blocs was held on May 8, 2018, the day before the elections. The debate saw the competing blocs present their electoral platforms, goals, and objectives, followed by questions from the Dean of Student Affairs. 

In the 2017 Student Council elections, Al Wafaa’ Islamic Bloc won 25 seats out of 51, the Martyr Yasser Arafat Bloc claimed 22 seats, and the Democratic Progressive Student Pole secured four seats.