Mahmoud Abbas, the 90-year-old Palestinian Authority president, maintains control through institutional dominance and a 2025 decree designating Hussein al-Sheikh as interim successor for up to 90 days pending elections if Abbas vacates the post. Recent Fatah party actions, including his unanimous re-election as movement leader and his son Yasser’s May 2026 entry onto the Central Committee, signal efforts to shape any transition while Abbas continues ruling by decree. Domestic polls show overwhelming calls for his resignation, yet scheduled November 2026 Palestinian National Council elections and 2027 presidential voting remain the primary scheduled catalysts that could test or extend his tenure. No acute health developments or formal resignation signals have emerged to shift the timeline, leaving trader consensus anchored on his demonstrated ability to delay or manage leadership changes amid factional rivalries and external pressures.