Abbas moves Palestinian presidential and legislative votes to September 2027
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has set September 11, 2027 for presidential and legislative elections, postponing the legislative vote due in November. His administration cited Israeli restrictions and insecurity in Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti criticised the delay and the absence of elected institutions. The last legislative election was held in 2006.
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Both votes move to September 11, 2027
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on October 10 setting September 11, 2027 for both presidential and legislative elections. The decision postpones the legislative vote planned for November. It puts elections for the presidency and legislature on a joint timetable.[1], [2]
The legislative election had been scheduled for November 28, while the presidential vote was expected in early 2027. The announcement followed a meeting of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the umbrella body of Palestinian political factions. The new decree replaces the earlier legislative timetable.[1]
The administration cites Israeli restrictions
The Palestinian administration attributed the delay to Israeli measures that it said obstructed elections. It cited military raids in the West Bank, settlement activity, settler violence and the withholding of tax revenue. The administration also said candidates and election observers faced restrictions on entering Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem.[1]
The Palestine Liberation Organization also cited the lack of reconstruction in Gaza and the absence of a deployed international stabilisation force. These were the Palestinian leadership’s stated grounds for postponement. The administration said dialogue among Palestinian factions should precede new national elections.[1]
Barghouti criticises the long absence of elections
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative political movement, expressed disappointment at the decision. He said Palestinians lacked a parliament and an independent judiciary, concentrating power in the executive. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Abbas of failing to fulfil promises to the international community.[1]
The last Palestinian legislative election was in 2006, when Hamas defeated Fatah. Their subsequent split left Hamas governing Gaza and the Fatah-dominated Palestinian administration governing parts of the West Bank. Abbas was elected president in 2005. His term expired in 2009, but he continued to govern through decrees.[1]
