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Occupied Territories: "Parliamentary" Elections to be Held in 2026

Published January 22, 2026, 11:19
Occupied Territories: "Parliamentary" Elections to be Held in 2026

The occupied territories are preparing for "parliamentary" elections in 2026, earlier than the initially scheduled 2027, according to statements by Fikri Ataoglu, a high-ranking official of the UBP. Mr. Ataoglu avoided specifying an exact date, as the matter has not been finalized among the partners in the "government". At the same time, the possibility of holding a referendum on "constitutional amendments" simultaneously with the elections is being discussed, which Mr. Ataoglu supported, although the "president of the supreme court" is calling for a separate referendum. Furthermore, Mr. Ataoglu referred to the discussion on horizontal voting, emphasizing the need for consultation with all parties and recalling the high percentage of invalid votes in previous elections. He expressed reservations about adopting the method if the process is not improved. Regarding the old "parliament" building and the "presidential palace", Mr. Ataoglu mentioned that there was a proposal under Ersin Tatar to turn them into museums, but the current leader has a different view on the "presidential palace", without clarifying it. This development marks an attempt to accelerate the political process in the occupied territories, while the discussion on the referendum and voting highlights internal disagreements and the need for consensus.