RAMALLAH, November 23, 2025 (WAFA) – The State of Palestine is advancing swiftly toward political and institutional reform and the revival of the democratic process—particularly at this pivotal moment in the history of the Palestinian cause.
The first steps began on 1 April 2024 with the appointment of the Government of Dr. Mohammad Mustafa as a national technocratic cabinet, guided by a comprehensive institutional, administrative, and financial reform program later known as the National Program for Development and Reform.
The program consists of multiple development initiatives built on four pillars, namely: Fiscal Policy and Public Finance Management; Governance and Rule of Law; Investment and Business Environment, and; Basic Service Delivery Improvement. To date, the program comprises nearly 60 reform measures, more than half of which have been completed, with the remaining measures currently underway.
One year following the formation of the 19th Government with its reform vision and program, a presidential decree was issued in April 2025 establishing the positions of Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Vice President of the State of Palestine. Six months later—this past October—President Mahmoud Abbas announced general presidential and legislative elections to be held within one year of the end of the war on Gaza, subject to conditions on the ground.
To revive the long-stalled democratic process—hindered for years either by Hamas’ control over Gaza or by the Israeli occupation’s obstruction of elections in Jerusalem in violation of international agreements—the State of Palestine is currently advancing three major tracks to strengthen the legal and legislative environment in preparation for general elections.
This forms an essential step toward realizing the Palestinian state in line with international legitimacy, most recently reaffirmed in the New York Declaration and its irreversible international commitment to concrete steps toward Palestinian statehood.
Three key draft laws being finalized to reinvigorate the democratic process
1. Promulgation of Decree-Law on Local Council Elections
On 19 November 2025, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree-law concerning the elections of local authority councils, based on a draft submitted by the Council of Ministers following an extensive consultation process with Palestinian parties and factions, civil society organizations, and after its publication on the Ministry of Justice’s Legislation Platform and the incorporation of necessary amendments based on the feedback received from all relevant stakeholders.
Under the decree-law, a single-member electoral system will be applied in village councils, while an open-list proportional representation system will be used for municipal councils. It also lowers the minimum age for candidacy to 23 in order to expand youth participation in local elections.
The decree-law further introduces mechanisms to increase women’s representation in local councils and sets out technical procedures to ensure the electoral process is conducted transparently, fairly, and in accordance with democratic principles.
Following the promulgation of the law, the Council of Ministers will set the date for holding local elections and begin the necessary preparations in coordination with the Central Elections Commission and all relevant bodies.
2. Drafting the Interim Constitution of the State of Palestine
A Constitutional Drafting Committee has been formed, consisting of six subcommittees and composed of experts in constitutional and public law, political specialists, academics, and representatives of civil society organizations and professional associations and unions.
The committee has held more than 55 meetings—at both the plenary and subcommittee levels—and consulted with all relevant institutions. It reviewed the amended Basic Law and all previously proposed constitutional drafts from 2003 through the last draft of 2016. Drawing on these materials, as well as comparative international experiences, the committee is finalizing a proposed draft to be submitted to the President before the end of November, 2025.
3. Drafting a New Political Parties Law
The third step toward revitalizing the institutions of the State of Palestine, strengthening its legislative frameworks, and renewing its institutional structure lies in drafting a dedicated Political Parties Law to regulate political life in Palestine. This law will pave the way for holding general elections under the umbrella of the PLO and in line with its international obligations, while safeguarding the independent national decision.
Accordingly, the Legal Committee for the Palestine National Council elections has tasked the Minister of Justice with preparing a draft Political Parties Law. The draft will be discussed across relevant political bodies and legal institutions in the State of Palestine, and published on the Ministry of Justice’s Legislation Platform to enable citizens and institutions to provide feedback before it is submitted to the Cabinet.
In parallel, the Central Elections Commission held a consultative meeting on 6 November at its headquarters in Ramallah & Al-Bireh with the PNC Elections Preparatory Committee to discuss preliminary concepts and preparatory phases for the upcoming elections.
The two bodies have put in place an initial outline for the operational phases of the Palestine National Council elections, including the required technical and logistical preparations to ensure a successful electoral process. A joint technical working group was also formed, comprising representatives from the Central Elections Commission and the National Council Elections Committee.
Additionally—and alongside the broader effort to revive the democratic process in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip—the State of Palestine is also advancing preparations for elections to the Palestine National Council (PNC). A specialized committee is working on preparations for PNC elections and reviewing the regulatory framework adopted in 2013.
To that end, four subcommittees have been established—Legal Affairs; Expatriates and Diaspora; Civil Society and Stakeholder Engagement; and Elections. Collectively, they have convened more than 15 meetings in the span of two months to advance this national process.
--
M.N
