Key Takeaways
- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree setting legislative elections for November 28.
- The last Palestinian legislative elections were held in 2006, with Hamas winning and Fatah losing control of the parliament.
- Held to meet international demands for reform, these elections could mark a significant shift in Palestinian politics.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree setting legislative elections for November 28. The move comes after two decades without such an election and is seen as part of broader reforms demanded by the international community.
The last legislative elections were held in 2006, resulting in Hamas winning and Fatah losing control over Palestinian politics. Since then, the Palestinian Legislative Council has not met, with its last session taking place in 2007.
Abbas, who won his last presidential election in 2005, is now facing criticism both domestically and internationally for extending his term without holding a presidential election since 2009. His rule has been marked by the use of presidential decrees to govern.
In 2021, Abbas announced plans for legislative and presidential elections to be held in May and July of that year respectively. However, these were indefinitely postponed due to concerns over voting in East Jerusalem, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has faced widespread criticism over corruption, stagnation, and declining legitimacy. Donors have increasingly tied their financial and diplomatic support to reform efforts, particularly concerning local governance.
In April, Palestinians went to the polls to elect municipal council heads in the occupied West Bank for the first time since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. This limited election was seen as a step towards broader democratic processes.
Abbas has announced that presidential elections will be held in early 2027, without specifying whether he intends to run. The upcoming legislative elections are expected to set the stage for future political developments and could potentially alter the balance of power within Palestinian politics.
