Middle East: Mahmoud Abbas re-elected as Fatah movement leader

President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas unanimously Tuesday won confidence of party members to continue as leader of the Fatah movement founded by historical icon Yasser Arafat.
The 81 years old man was cheered by delegates present at the movement’s congress which kicked off the same day. There was no voting mechanism nor was there any contestant.
Abbas, in power since 2004, was elected in same circumstances 2009. The favourite is either cheered or is not.
Critics say most delegates were in favour of Abbas. Around 1,500 delegates were present at the congress and reports say that delegates allowed to attend the congress should have had at least 15 years of activism in the party.
The vote is seen as a masquerade. Abbas’s popularity has been waning in Palestinian territories even in Ramallah where the Fatah movement has been reigning.
The party has been plagued by internal fighting. The real contestant of Abbas, Mohammed Dahlane has been living in exile, in United Arab Emirates.