Palestinians to Hold First Presidential Election in Over 20 Years

Jul 9, 2026

53 min

Jul 9, 2026 18:30

Palestinians to vote in first presidential election in over 20 years

## Historic Election Announcement

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that the first presidential election in over two decades will take place in early 2027. This follows a decree setting November 28, 2026, for legislative elections. The last presidential election was held in 2005, and the legislative elections in 2006.

## Legislative Elections Scheduled

The upcoming legislative elections will allow Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza to elect members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The council has been inactive since 2007 due to political divisions between Fatah and Hamas.

## Election Law Amendments

Recent changes to the election laws include expanding the council to 200 seats, lowering the electoral threshold, and increasing women's representation. The minimum age for candidates has been reduced to 23, and each list must have at least 20 candidates.

## International Pressure and Previous Delays

The decision to hold elections comes amid international calls for reform within the Palestinian Authority. A previous attempt to hold elections in 2021 was postponed due to concerns about voting in East Jerusalem.

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