President Abbas issues a constitutional declaration that the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO will assume the duties of President of the Palestinian Authority if the position becomes vacant

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a constitutional declaration, according to which, if the position of President of the Palestinian National Authority becomes vacant, in the absence of the Legislative Council, the Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Vice President of the State of Palestine, shall assume the duties of presidency of the National Authority temporarily, for a period not exceeding 90 days, during which free and direct elections will be held to elect a new president, in accordance with the Palestinian Elections Law, and in the event that they cannot be held during that period due to force majeure. It was extended by decision of the Palestinian Central Council for another period, and for one time only.

The Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported on Sunday that, “Under the new Constitutional Declaration, Constitutional Declaration No. (1) of 2024 will be cancelled, in order to preserve the national interest of our Palestinian people.”

President Abbas said, in the new Constitutional Declaration, “Out of our belief and awareness of this delicate stage in the history of the nation and the Palestinian issue, and in fulfillment of our historical and constitutional responsibility to protect the Palestinian political system, protect the nation, preserve the integrity of its lands and ensure its security, and out of concern for preserving its constitutional institutions and ensuring the continuity of their work in the event that the position of President of the Palestinian National Authority becomes vacant.”

He added: “Out of our belief that the dignity of the nation is nothing but a reflection of the dignity of each of its individuals, which is the basis of its construction, and that human freedom, the rule of law, and strengthening the values ​​of equality, pluralistic democracy, and social justice are the basis of legitimacy for any ruling system that will lead the country for the next period in the history of our people.”

He continued: “Based on the above, and based on the requirements of the supreme national interest in maintaining stability, we issued the Constitutional Declaration in confirmation of the principle of separation of powers and the peaceful transfer of power through free and fair elections.”