Ramallah, Palestine – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a significant presidential decree on Thursday, July 9, 2026, setting the official date for Palestinian legislative elections. This decision is a step aimed at strengthening democratic life and renewing the legitimacy of Palestinian national institutions.
Details of the presidential decree
The decree calls upon all Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip to participate in free and direct legislative elections to choose the members of the new Palestinian Legislative Council on Saturday, November 28th of this year. According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), this decision comes “to consolidate the foundations of democracy and complete the electoral process that has begun in the State of Palestine.” The decision also aims to ensure the peaceful transfer of power and to reactivate the legislative institutions that have been inactive for many years.
A comprehensive plan for the electoral process
In a related context, the presidential decree affirmed the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to fulfilling national electoral obligations, indicating that a date for the presidential elections would be set later. The presidential elections are scheduled to be held in the first quarter of next year (2027), in accordance with the Palestinian Basic Law and applicable regulations.
The issuance of this decree comes amidst highly complex political circumstances in the Palestinian arena and the region, leading observers to hope that it will constitute a genuine step towards ending the internal division and restructuring the Palestinian political landscape.
The Central Elections Commission is expected to begin its logistical and technical preparations in the coming days, in coordination with all national factions and forces. This is to ensure that the electoral process is conducted with transparency and integrity, under international and national supervision, thus opening the door to a new phase of political and institutional work in the State of Palestine.
