Mahmoud Abbas, the 90-year-old Palestinian Authority president who has held office since 2005 without subsequent elections, issued a 2025 constitutional declaration designating Hussein al-Sheikh as interim successor for up to 180 days pending new votes. In May 2026, Abbas secured re-election as Fatah leader at the party conference while his son Yasser joined the Central Committee, and in July he scheduled legislative elections for November 28, 2026, with presidential voting set for early 2027. These steps, alongside periodic health-related rumors, frame trader assessments of departure timing, as any transition hinges on whether Abbas contests the upcoming ballots or yields to the interim process amid Fatah internal dynamics and broader calls for leadership renewal.