Mahmoud Abbas names Rawhi Fattouh as temporary successor amid health concerns
- Mahmoud Abbas announced Rawhi Fattouh as interim president if he leaves office, addressing leadership succession concerns.
- This appointment comes amid Abbas's declining health and widespread unpopularity among Palestinians.
- The move emphasizes the urgent need for organized presidential elections within the next 90 days.
In Palestine, the current political landscape faces uncertainty regarding leadership succession as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas takes decisive steps to address concerns surrounding a potential power vacuum due to his declining health. On a recent Wednesday, he announced that the chairman of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, would assume the role of interim president should Abbas die or vacate his position. Abbas emphasized that this interim presidency would be limited to no more than 90 days, during which new presidential elections should be organized. This decision comes amidst ongoing speculation about Abbas's eventual exit from the presidency, as he has faced health issues and growing unpopularity over the years. Notably, Abbas has been in office since 2005 without any presidential elections taking place since that time, raising concerns about the legitimacy of future leadership. With an alarming 89% of Palestinians in the West Bank expressing a desire for his resignation, Abbas's move to appoint Fattouh reveals his attempts to stabilize the leadership structure, albeit without naming a permanent deputy. Furthermore, tensions rise as external factors come into play; Israeli officials have publicly stated their intentions regarding the West Bank in the event of a leadership change influenced by Hamas, thus complicating the political landscape. These developments highlight the precarious state of governance in Palestine and the urgent need for a democratically sustainable transition of power.