Ever since his April 31 decision to scrap the legislative elections, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been under pressure to give the population some kind of say. In a move that is contrary to the Palestinian law, which stipulates that elections should be held on the same day, the Palestinian government decided to hold local elections piecemeal.

They were confident of doing well in rural areas, while they were worried about major cities. That thinking appears to have paid off for the PLO’s main faction, the Fatah movement. 

Results of the local council elections held in areas C gave Fatah a slight boost, according to election’s observer, Rima Nazal. Speaking to Al-Monitor, the member of the General Women’s Association said that “both Fatah lists and candidates close to Fatah did well in the elections of rural areas giving Fatah a small political boost.”

The biggest success for Fatah appears to have been in communities in which an uncontested list was presented. According to the Palestinian Election commission, 126 out of the 162 uncontested lists were registered as belonging to Fatah.