Explainer
Why did Mahmoud Abbas push Palestinian elections back?
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a presidential decree postponing the legislative vote scheduled for late November. His decision further delays what would have been the first Palestinian national elections to take place in more than 20 years.
20 yrs
The decree blames Israeli access restrictions on election staff in Jerusalem and Gaza City, citing exceptional security hurdles and stalled reconstruction. It also highlights consultations for a broader national dialogue, after officials told Reuters that faction leaders meeting in Cairo agreed to the delay.
Jerusalem, Gaza City, and Cairo
Palestinians last voted for their parliament in 2006. Following the decree issued on October 10, 2026, both the legislative and presidential ballots have now been pushed back to September 11, 2027.
- 2006Last legislative election
- 10 October 2026Decree delays vote
- 11 September 2027Coming upNew election date
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Abbas postpones Palestinian legislative elections to September 2027, first vote since 2006Read the article
Based on reports by
- RTE.iePalestinian elections postponed over security concerns
- L'OpinionPalestine: Mahmoud Abbas postpones legislative elections by one year, presidential election called for September 2027
- Al Jazeera OnlineAbbas postpones Palestinian legislative elections to September 2027
- LesEchos.frPostponement of Palestinian legislative elections to 2027
- TSF Rádio NotíciasPalestinian Authority leader schedules general elections for September 2027
- watson.ch/Abbas postpones parliamentary and presidential elections