On Wednesday evening, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a constitutional decree according to which the Speaker of the National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, will assume the duties of President of the Palestinian Authority in the event that the position becomes vacant.
According to the new decree, the President of the National Council assumes power for a period not exceeding 90 days, during which free and direct presidential elections are held, according to the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa).
If it is not possible to hold elections during that period due to force majeure, “they shall be extended by decision of the Palestinian Central Council for another period, and for one time only.”
The Constitutional Declaration said that the step comes within the framework of 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.”
He added that issuing the decree represents a desire to emerge from the crises the country is experiencing.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Abbas’s decision came as a result of pressure imposed on him to resign or to replace him in the event of his failure to carry out his duties, “as well as to prevent the outbreak of an ‘internal war’ in the National Liberation Movement (Fatah) over his succession.”
Channel 12 quoted Palestinian sources as saying, “Abbas’s announcement has nothing to do with his health condition. There are American pressures that pushed him to make this announcement.”