Between the National and the Legislative.. What is Abu Mazen arranging before the November elections?
An analysis of President Mahmoud Abbas's moves ahead of the November legislative elections, as he seeks to arrange his cards on two tables: unifying the Fatah list for the legislative elections, and organizing the National Council as a political safety net in case the elections cannot be held. The article addresses Fatah's internal crisis, the possibility of placing Marwan Barghouti at the head of the list, and European warnings against postponing the elections.
An analysis of President Mahmoud Abbas's moves ahead of the legislative elections scheduled for November 2026. The article paints a picture of Abbas arranging his cards on two tables: the first concerns unifying the Fatah movement's list for the legislative elections to prevent vote dispersion, and the second concerns arrangements for the Palestinian National Council as a political safety net in case the elections cannot be held or are postponed. The article addresses Fatah's internal crisis, and relays circulating information about considering placing imprisoned Marwan Barghouti at the head of the movement's list as a figure capable of uniting ranks, noting that this option might prevent multiple lists and open the door for understanding with the Muhammad Dahlan faction. The article warns that National Council arrangements could lead to replacing popular will with appointments, and reproducing the old approach under the guise of institutional renewal. The article points to European messages rejecting new justifications for postponement, and Washington's position which has not placed an explicit veto on the elections.