Mahmoud Abbas, now 90, maintains control of the Palestinian Authority through decree more than 17 years after his electoral mandate expired, with a designated successor mechanism naming deputy Hussein al-Sheikh to serve up to 180 days pending new elections. Parliamentary elections set for November 28, 2026—the first in over two decades—could accelerate or delay any transition, though analysts note repeated past cancellations when Abbas’s position appeared threatened. Fatah internal dynamics, including the president’s elevation of his son Yasser within party structures and competition from figures such as Mahmoud al-Aloul and Jibril Rajoub, add layers of uncertainty. International pressure for governance reforms, coupled with U.S. visa restrictions and sanctions on PA officials, continues without producing an immediate exit trigger.