Mahmoud Abbas Issues Decree-Law Amending Palestinian Elections Law, Raising Seats to 200

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree-law amending Decree-Law No. 1 of 2007 on general elections, as part of efforts to enhance political participation and broaden democratic representation.

WAFA said the amendment increases the number of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council to 200, lowers the electoral threshold required to win seats to 1%, and raises the minimum number of candidates on each electoral list from 16 to 20.

Al-Hay'ah Al-Wataniyya Lil-i'laam

The New Arab reported that Abbas issued the amended decree-law on Sunday ahead of legislative and presidential elections, citing an informed Palestinian official who said there was "serious pressure from the Europeans on the Palestinian Authority leadership".

The Times of Israel said Abbas also signed a decree aimed at preventing Hamas, and other factions sharing the same positions, from participating in the PA's municipal elections scheduled for April, requiring candidates to sign a declaration accepting the "national program" of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

WAFA said the decree-law requires at least one woman among every three candidates on an electoral list to enhance women's representation in political life and decision-making.

WAFA also reported that the amendment lowers the minimum age for candidacy in Legislative Council elections from 28 to 23, enabling wider youth participation in the democratic process.

Al-Jazeera Net

The New Arab said the amendments come as a prelude to issuing a presidential decree expected to be issued 100 days before the election date, and it quoted the same informed Palestinian official saying, "The Oslo Accords stipulated holding elections for the Legislative Council."

The Times of Israel added that Abbas described 2026 as "the year of Palestinian democracy," while the dates of elections remain to be determined, and it noted that the 90-year-old leader is entering his 21st year of an initial four-year term.

The Times of Israel said Abbas's amendment applies only to municipal elections, with the PA's Central Election Commission planning elections in 420 Palestinian localities in the West Bank and also in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

It reported that the Deir al-Balah vote would likely require cooperation from the National Government for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) under the supervision of the Peace Council of U.S. President Donald Trump.

WAFA said Abbas is expected to issue a decree calling for Legislative Council elections to be held concurrently with Palestinian National Council elections, and it added that those elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council shall automatically become representatives of the homeland in the Palestinian National Council.

The Times of Israel said analysts believe Abbas may be motivated to prevent Hamas from strengthening its presence in the West Bank, and it quoted Ghaith al-Omari saying, "We are with you," said Ghaith al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.