Palestinian President Names His Successor

Darwin, 28 October-

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has officially named his successor. In a written statement issued on Sunday, the 89-year-old leader announced that Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh will temporarily assume the presidency if he becomes unable to perform his duties.

According to the Palestinian state news agency WAFA, Abbas stated,

> “In the event that the positions of President of the State of Palestine and the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) become vacant for any reason, the Vice President of Palestine and the Vice President of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, will temporarily assume these roles. His responsibility will be to organize elections in accordance with Palestinian electoral law and then hand over power to the newly elected government.”

Under the Palestinian constitution, a presidential election must be held within 90 days after the end of a president’s term. If circumstances prevent the election from taking place, the outgoing president will remain in office for another term.

Constitutional Decree No. 1 previously stipulated that, if the presidency became vacant, the Chairman (or Speaker) of the Palestinian National Council (PNC) would serve as acting president until new elections are held. However, Abbas’s latest decree revokes that provision, citing the need for constitutional and political stability.

In his written announcement, Abbas explained,

> “For the sake of preserving the Palestinian political system, safeguarding the homeland’s security, and protecting the constitutional institutions of Palestine, Decree No. 1 is hereby annulled.”

Mahmoud Abbas has been serving as President of Palestine for nearly two decades. He succeeded Yasser Arafat, the long-time Palestinian leader who passed away in November 2004. Abbas was elected president in January 2005 following Arafat’s death.

Source: Anadolu Agency