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{{use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = Next Palestinian presidential election
| country = Palestine
| type = presidential
| previous_election = 2005 Palestinian presidential election
| previous_year = 2005
| election_date = TBD
| next_election =
| next_year = 2025
| turnout =
| candidate1 =
| image1 =
| party1 =
| alliance1 =
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 =
| swing1 =
| candidate2 =
| image2 =
| party2 =
| alliance2 =
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| swing2 =
| title = [[President of the State of Palestine|President]]
| before_election = [[Mahmoud Abbas]]
| before_party = Fatah
| posttitle = President-elect
| after_election =
| after_party =
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| ongoing = yes
}}{{Politics of Palestine}}

The '''next Palestinian presidential election''' was scheduled to be held on 31 July 2021 according to a decree by President [[Mahmoud Abbas]] on 15 January 2021.<ref name=decree>{{cite news |title=President Abbas enacts decree-law on holding general elections |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/122864|publisher=WAFA|date=15 January 2021|access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref> However, it was subsequently postponed indefinitely.

The elections were to have followed [[2021 Palestinian legislative election|legislative elections]], which were to have taken place on 22 May 2021, but which were also postponed. [[Hamas]] had welcomed the proposed elections,<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamas welcomes Abbas decree announcing Palestinian elections |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-election-hamas/hamas-welcomes-abbas-decree-announcing-palestinian-elections-idUSKBN29K2GU |publisher=Reuters|date=15 January 2021|access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref> as had the UN and the EU,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/91501/palestine-statement-spokesperson-launching-preparations-elections_en|title=Palestine: Statement by the Spokesperson on launching the preparations for elections|website=EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.pnn.ps/2021/01/17/un-spokesperson-elections-will-be-a-crucial-step-towards-palestinian-unity/|title=UN Spokesperson: Elections will be a crucial step towards Palestinian unity|date=17 January 2021 |website=PNN}}</ref> and a number of countries. Hamas, Fatah and other groups agreed on 9 February on the "mechanisms" for the elections, which includes an electoral court and commitments to open voting.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/9/palestinian-factions-agree-on-long-delayed-elections|title=Palestinian factions agree on 'mechanisms' for long-delayed polls|work=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=9 February 2021|accessdate=9 February 2021}}</ref>

The [[Central Elections Commission (Palestine)|Palestinian Central Elections Commission]] (CEC) was to conduct the elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.ps/tabid/1127/language/en-US/Default.aspx|title=Presidential Decree No. ( 1 ) of 2021 On the Call for Legislative Presidential and National Council Elections|website=www.elections.ps}}</ref> CEC Chairman [[Hanna Nasir]] said on 16 January 2021 that "about two million Palestinians in [[Jerusalem]], the [[West Bank]], and [[Gaza Strip]] were eligible to vote."<ref>{{cite news |title=CEC chairman: Two million Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem are eligible to vote |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/122871|publisher=WAFA|date=16 January 2021 |access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref> On 2 March 2021, after the expiration of the deadline for registration to vote, the CEC said that 2.6 million of the 2.8 million eligible voters in the West Bank and Gaza, 93% of the total, had registered to vote. It is not compulsory to register to vote nor actually to vote in Palestinian elections.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/palestinian-politics-election-int-idUSKBN2AH1Q7 |title=Palestinians report 93% voter registration for upcoming elections |date=17 February 2021|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

On 14 March 2021, a Palestinian Authority official said Arab residents of Jerusalem will participate in the Palestinian general elections; however, a senior Israeli government official said that no decision had yet been taken. Abbas and other Palestinian officials have said there would be no elections without the participation of Arab residents of Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/pa-jerusalem-arabs-to-participate-in-palestinian-elections-661979 |title=Palestinian Authority: Jerusalem Arabs to participate in PA Elections|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|first1=Khaled|last1=Abu Toameh|first2=Lahav|last2=Harkov|author-link=Khaled Abu Toameh|date=14 March 2021|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/pa-president-mahmoud-abbas-no-palestinian-elections-without-jerusalem-666336|title=PA President Mahmoud Abbas: No Palestinian elections without Jerusalem|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|first=Khaled|last=Abu Toameh|date=26 April 2021|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref> Blaming Israel for not agreeing to permit Palestinians resident in Jerusalem to vote, Abbas postponed the election on 29 April<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/abbas-israel-said-no-to-palestinian-elections-in-jerusalem-666793|title=Abbas: Palestinian elections postponed after Israel blocks Jerusalem vote|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|first=Khaled|last=Abu Toameh|date=30 April 2021|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref> but did not set a new date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/eu-un-call-on-abbas-to-set-new-date-for-palestinian-elections-666843|title=EU, UN call on Abbas to set new date for Palestinian elections|website=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|first=Tovah|last=Lazaroff|date=1 May 2021|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref> The postponement has been strongly criticised.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/abbass-decision-to-delay-elections-sparks-public-outcry-666907|title=Abbas's decision to delay elections sparks public outcry|work=The Jerusalem Post|first=Khaled|last=Abu Toameh|date=1 May 2021|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref>

==Background==
{{see also|Elections in Palestine}}
[[Mahmoud Abbas]] was elected [[President of the State of Palestine|President]] of the [[Palestinian National Authority]] (PA) on 9 January 2005 for a four-year term that ended on 9 January 2009.<ref name=YNN>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3639210,00.html|title=Report: Abbas won't run for another term|work=[[Ynetnews]] |date=16 December 2008|first=Roee|last=Nahmias|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref> The last elections for the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] (PLC) were held on 25 January 2006.<ref name=CEC>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Final_Results_PLC_Summary_Lists_Seats_2_En.pdf|title=The Final Results for the Electoral Lists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029054121/http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Final_Results_PLC_Summary_Lists_Seats_2_En.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2008|date=29 October 2008}}</ref> There have not been any elections either for president or for the PLC since these two elections, with elections in the PA since those dates having only been for local offices.

Elections had previously been scheduled for between February and March 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/24/fatah-hamas-say-deal-reached-on-palestinian-elections|title=Fatah, Hamas say deal reached on Palestinian elections|date=24 September 2020|access-date=24 September 2020|work=[[Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> They had previously also been scheduled for April and October 2014, in accordance with the [[2014 Fatah–Hamas Agreements#Gaza Agreement, April 2014|Fatah–Hamas Gaza Agreement of April 2014]],<ref name=france24>{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20140423-fatah-hamas-agree-palestinian-unity-government/ |title=Fatah, Hamas agree to form Palestinian unity government |newspaper=France 24|date=23 April 2014|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424015211/http://www.france24.com/en/20140423-fatah-hamas-agree-palestinian-unity-government/|archive-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> but which were then delayed indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/10/palestine-presidential-parliamentary-elections-on-hold.html|title=Palestinian elections on hold until further notice|newspaper=Al Monitor|date=28 October 2014|access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> In October 2017, Hamas and [[Fatah]] signed a reconciliation deal in which Hamas agreed to dissolve the unity government in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] and hold general elections by the end of 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-talks/palestinian-factions-agree-to-hold-general-election-by-end-2018-idUSKBN1DM2H4|title=Palestinian factions agree to hold general election by end-2018|date=22 November 2017|access-date=18 June 2018|work=Reuters|author1=Nidal al-Mughrabi|author2=Nadine Awadalla}}</ref> but the elections again were not held. Mahmoud Abbas announced on 26 September 2019 at a speech held at the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] that he intends to set a date for elections once he returns to the [[West Bank]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-abbas-says-he-will-announce-first-palestinian-elections-since-2006-1.7912929|title=Abbas Says He Will Announce First Palestinian Elections Since 2006|date=26 September 2019|access-date=26 September 2019|work=[[Haaretz]]|first=Jack|last=Khoury}}</ref> Hamas responded by indicating that it is ready to hold "comprehensive and general elections",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-09/27/c_138426210.htm|title=Hamas says ready to join general, comprehensive elections|date=27 September 2019|work=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhua]]}}</ref> but on 6 November Hamas and [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine|Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] (PIJ) rejected Abbas's terms for holding elections, which required candidates to recognize the agreements signed by the PLO to be able to run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Hamas-and-Islamic-Jihad-reject-Abbas-terms-for-Palestinian-elections-607010|title=Hamas and Islamic Jihad reject Abbas's terms for Palestinian elections|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=6 November 2019|access-date=6 November 2019|first=Rossella|last=Tercatin}}</ref> On 11 November 2019, Abbas said that there would be no new Palestinian elections unless they include east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Abbas-No-elections-without-Gaza-Jerusalemmartyrs-are-not-terrorists-607519|title=Abbas: No elections without Gaza, Jerusalem; 'martyrs' are not terrorists|date=11 November 2019|access-date=27 November 2019|first=Khaled|last=Abu Toameh|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> On 26 November 2019, Hamas confirmed that it had agreed with the Palestinian Central Elections Commission to participate in elections and that Hamas will not accept the exclusion of Jerusalem under any circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191127-hamas-agrees-to-the-plan-for-holding-palestinian-elections/|title=Hamas agrees to the plan for holding Palestinian elections|date=27 November 2019|publisher=Middle East Monitor|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref> Abbas announced in early December that elections will take place in a few months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Palestinian-Authority-Mahmoud-Abbas-announces-elections-610420|title=Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas announces elections|date=10 December 2019|work=The Jerusalem Post|author=Staff writer|author-link=Staff writer}}</ref> On 10 December 2019, the Palestinian Authority asked Israel to allow East Jerusalem residents to vote in the planned elections, a request that Israeli officials said would go to the security cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-palestinians-ask-israel-to-let-east-jerusalem-residents-vote-in-pa-election-1.8255238|title=Palestinians Ask Israel to Let East Jerusalem Residents Vote in PA Election |publisher=Haaretz|date=10 December 2019|access-date=11 December 2019|first1=Jack|last1=Khoury|first2=Noa|last2=Landau}}</ref>

===Fatah–Hamas conflict===
{{Main|Fatah–Hamas conflict}}
In September 2008, it was suggested that Abbas' term be extended one year or that the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] be dissolved a year early in order for both elections be held simultaneously.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6492896.html|title=Palestinian FM: Abbas' term could be extended|work=[[Xinhua]]|date=4 September 2008}}</ref> Hamas objected to holding simultaneous elections, arguing that the presidential election should have been held in January 2009 and the parliamentary elections in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4AA68W20081111|title=Abbas urges vote to heal rift with Hamas|work=Reuters|first=Wafa|last=Amr|date=12 November 2008|access-date=4 October 2021}}</ref> Hamas also claimed that the PLC speaker, [[Aziz Dweik|Aziz al-Dewik]], who is a Hamas member, became the Palestinian president after Abbas' term ended on 9 January 2009, until new elections are held.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6546076.html|title=Hamas: PLC Speaker to replace Abbas in January|work=Xinhua|date=3 December 2008}}</ref>

Fatah argued that elections should have been held in January 2010, since the Palestinian election law calls for presidential and legislative council elections to be held simultaneously, four years after the date of the later. Since the PLC elections were held in 2006 (a year after the presidential election), new elections for both should have been held in January 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reut-blog.org/2008/09/25/palestinian-elections-2009-hamas-fatah/|title=When are the next Palestinian Elections|work=Reut Institute Blog|date=25 September 2009|access-date=11 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625082052/http://reut-blog.org/2008/09/25/palestinian-elections-2009-hamas-fatah/|archive-date=25 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In reconciliation talks held in Cairo, Egypt, in March 2009, Hamas and Fatah agreed to hold the elections by 25 January 2010.<ref>{{cite web|author=english@peopledaily.com.cn|url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6614692.html|title=Palestinian factions agree to hold elections by January 2010 - People's Daily Online |publisher=English.people.com.cn|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> In the end, because of the [[Fatah–Hamas conflict]], the issue of new elections remained unresolved.

In February 2010, local government elections were called in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for July 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/Papers/2010/Palestinian-Local-Elections-2010.aspx|title=Palestinian Local Elections 2010|publisher=IFES|access-date=17 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203220519/http://www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/Papers/2010/Palestinian-Local-Elections-2010.aspx|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The West Bank Palestinian government decided to postpone the presidential and PLC elections, arguing that it wanted to safeguard "national unity".<ref>{{cite web|last=Abu|first=Khaled|url=http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=199255&R=R1 |title=PA High Court: Municipal elections can't be delayed|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> In December 2010, the Palestinian High Court of Justice ruled that once cabinet calls elections, it does not have authority to cancel them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/Papers/2010/Palestinian-High-Court-Cancelling-Elections-is-Illegal.aspx|title=Palestinian High Court: "Cancelling Elections is Illegal"|publisher=IFES|access-date=17 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018165635/http://www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/Papers/2010/Palestinian-High-Court-Cancelling-Elections-is-Illegal.aspx|archive-date=18 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> After being postponed several times the [[2012-13 Palestinian local elections|local government elections took place in October and November 2012]] and covered only the West Bank.

===Attempts to resolve election issue===
{{main|Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process}}
Presidential and parliamentary election to the Palestinian Authority were postponed several times because of [[Fatah–Hamas conflict|intra-Palestinian political disputes]] between [[Fatah]] and [[Hamas]],<ref name="ploelection">{{cite web|url=http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=15161 |title=Palestine News & Info Agency - WAFA - Palestinian National Elections Before September, Says PLO Executive Committee|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> from the original date of 17 July 2010.<ref name="mg">{{Cite web|url=http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Hamas+vows+boycott+Palestinian+elections/4247649/story.html|title=Hamas vows to boycott Palestinian elections|date=14 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214151351/http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Hamas+vows+boycott+Palestinian+elections/4247649/story.html|archive-date=14 February 2011}}</ref>

In February 2011, following the resignation of [[Saeb Erekat]] as chief negotiator with Israel for the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]] following the release of the [[Palestine Papers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011212135152355248.html |title=Erekat quits over Palestine Papers |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=13 February 2011 |access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref> which were harshly critical of the PLO's concessions, the PLO Executive Committee announced intentions to hold elections before October.<ref name="ploelection"/> Abbas's followed the announcement with calls for "the spirit of change in Egypt" to inspire Palestinian unity. His aide [[Yasser Abed Rabbo]] said: "The Palestinian leadership decided to hold presidential and legislative elections within September. It urges all the sides to put their differences aside."

Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, said that Abbas does not have the legitimacy to make the electoral call. "Hamas will not take part in this election. We will not give it legitimacy. And we will not recognize the results."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011213772175689.html|title=Abbas calls for Palestinian polls - Middle East|publisher=Al Jazeera English|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

In October 2011, Abbas sent a proposal to Hamas for another general election, preferably to be held in early 2012. It was suggested that Hamas would be more willing to participate in another election following the [[Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange]], which boosted Hamas' standing in Gaza.<ref name="elections">{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/19/c_131201078.htm|title=Abbas to present Hamas general elections offer}}</ref> In November 2011, an election date on 4 May 2012 was preliminarily agreed on.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2011/11/15/142352059/official-rivals-fatah-hamas-agree-on-elections] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117212940/http://www.npr.org/2011/11/15/142352059/official-rivals-fatah-hamas-agree-on-elections|date=17 November 2011}}</ref> However, due to further bickering, the election could not be held by that date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/palestinian-elections-delayed-by-hamas-fatah-bickering|title=Palestinian elections delayed by Hamas-Fatah bickering|publisher=The National|date=9 March 2012|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

On 20 December 2013 Hamas called on the Palestinian Authority to form a six-month national unity government that would finally hold the long-delayed general election.<ref>[http://www.ansa.it/ansalatina/notizie/fdg/201312201622446926/201312201622446926.html Llamado Hamas a Abbas por gobierno unitario] Ansa, 20 December 2013 {{in lang|es}}</ref> Following the upgrade of the UN status of Palestine to non-member observer state, it was proposed that general state elections would follow in 2013, in line with unity talks of Fatah and Hamas. In April 2014 [[2014 Fatah–Hamas Agreements|agreement was reached between Fatah and Hamas]] to form a unity government, which took place on 2 June 2014, and for general elections to take place within 6 months of the agreement.<ref name=france24/>

==Candidates==
In early June 2008, [[Fatah]] had renominated Abbas as its candidate for the next presidential elections,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6426442.html |title=Fatah nominates Abbas for next presidential elections|work=Xinhua|date=8 June 2008}}</ref> although reports in December had suggested that he would not run for a second term.<ref name=YNN/> Rumours emerged again on 28 October 2009 of Abbas not running for another term;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6796666.html|title=Abbas may not run in coming election: official - People's Daily Online |publisher=English.people.com.cn |date=28 October 2009|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref> and on 5 November 2009, he publicly announced his intention not to seek reelection,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8344687.stm|work=BBC News|title=Abbas will not seek re-election|date=5 November 2009}}</ref> though he said he would stay until the next presidential election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/news/Abbas+says+stay+until+next+Palestinian+vote/2265991/story.html|title=Article|publisher=canada.com|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=20298 Fact sheet on the Presidential election]

{{Palestinian elections}}

[[Category:Future elections in Asia|Palestine]]
[[Category:Elections in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Fatah–Hamas conflict]]
[[Category:Cancelled elections]]

Next Palestinian presidential election - Revision history

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