Full Breakdown
PLO Restructures Palestinian National Council Ahead of November 28 Legislative Elections
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Restructuring Plan and Election Timeline
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has approved a reform that will cut the Palestinian National Council (PNC) from 747 members to 350. The new composition will include 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), 150 representatives of the diaspora and 67 seats allocated by consensus to PLO factions. Elections to fill the diaspora seats have already begun, with Kuwait’s Palestinian community selecting Hisham Ibrahim and Saleh Qannam, Bahrain electing Tamer Kadash, and Qatar choosing Muhannad Al-Shorbaji Al-Agha and Imad Al-Bal‘awi. The PLC election is scheduled for November 28.
Background and Rationale
The reform, ratified in June after President Mahmoud Abbas announced it last year, seeks to replace the former system of factional quotas, allocations and special appointments with a broader electoral college model. The PLO Executive Committee member Ramzi Rabah (Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) argues that the new process could enable a national dialogue that includes all factions, including Hamas, without postponing elections for two years.
Key Actors and Their Positions
- Mahmoud Abbas – President of the Palestinian Authority, champion of the restructuring.
- Husam Badran – Hamas political bureau member and head of national relations, urging broader participation and condemning exclusivity.
- Ramzi Rabah – DFLP Executive Committee member, calling for consensus-based mechanisms.
- International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) – Rights watchdog raising concerns about the inclusivity of the new electoral arrangements.
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – Faction urging Abbas to postpone the PLC vote.
Official Responses and Criticism
Hamas officials, while seeking to join the elections, insist candidates must recognize the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Husam Badran has described the continuation of “the same approach of exclusivity” as a “national crime” and a confiscation of Palestinian voting rights. The PFLP’s call for postponement reflects fears that Hamas could increase its influence in the West Bank.
What’s Next
The PLO will continue electing diaspora representatives through electoral colleges in Lebanon, Syria, Europe, the United States and South America. The restructured PNC is expected to convene after the PLC election on November 28, pending finalization of the selection mechanisms for the remaining seats.