Ramallah: President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree-law amending Decree-Law No. (1) of 2007 on General Elections and its amendments, marking a significant step towards enhancing political participation and broadening democratic representation.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the decree-law introduces several changes, including increasing the number of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council to 200 and lowering the electoral threshold for winning seats to 1%. It also raises the minimum number of candidates on each electoral list from 16 to 20. These changes aim to facilitate a more representative political landscape in Palestine.
The decree-law also includes measures to enhance women's representation by mandating the inclusion of at least one woman among every three candidates on an electoral list. This ensures broader representation of women and greater participation in political life and decision-making processes.
Furthermore, the decree-law lowers the minimum age for candidacy in Legislative Council elections from 28 to 23. This change seeks to empower younger generations and encourage their active involvement in the democratic process, reinforcing their role in elected institutions.
In addition to these amendments, President Abbas is expected to call for Legislative Council elections to be held concurrently with Palestinian National Council elections. Previously, President Abbas had issued a decree encouraging Palestinians, both domestically and internationally, to participate in the Palestinian National Council elections scheduled for November 1, 2026. Those elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council will automatically become representatives in the Palestinian National Council.
President Abbas has also announced plans for presidential elections to be held in 2027. Additionally, he approved the electoral system for the Palestinian National Council, following its adoption by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, aiming to complete the democratic process and enhance popular participation within the organization's institutions.