Fatah Wins Majority in Birzeit University Student Council Elections

Martyr Yasser Arafat Bloc (Fatah) won 23 out of 51 seats in the Birzeit University Student Council elections held on April 10, 2013. Competing factions Islamic Wafaa’ Bloc (Hamas) got 20 seats, the Democratic Progressive Student Pole won seven seats, and the Palestine for All Bloc obtained one seat.  The remaining blocs failed to win any seats.
Acting Dean of Student Affairs and Head of the Elections Preparatory Committee Mohammad Al-Ahmad said that 76% of students voted in the annual elections. The Fatah-affiliated list received 2,506 votes, compared to 2,141 votes for Hamas, 703 Democratic Progressive Student Pole votes and 131 votes for the Palestine for All Bloc.
President Khalil Hindi applauded the students’ commitment and cooperation, and that the elections took place in a peaceful and democratic atmosphere that reflected students’ sense of responsibility towards their university. He emphasized that the efforts undertaken by the university would be insufficient without students’ efforts to contribute to an active and positive role in the community.
One day before the elections, a student debate between the competing blocs was held in which each bloc presented its electoral program and its goals and objectives, followed by questions asked by the Student Affairs dean.
In the 2012 elections, the Fatah Bloc won 26 seats out of 51 seats, the Islamic Wafaa' Bloc got 19 seats, Student Progressive Democratic Bloc held five seats and the Palestine for All Bloc won one seat. The rest of the blocs also failed to get any seats.