Mahmoud Abbas, the 90-year-old Palestinian Authority president and Fatah leader, faces persistent internal and external pressures amid succession maneuvering. He designated Hussein al-Sheikh as interim successor in a 2025 constitutional declaration, with a 90-day window for elections extendable once. Legislative elections are set for November 28, 2026, followed by presidential voting in 2027—the first such votes in two decades. Fatah’s May 2026 conference reelected Abbas and elevated his son Yasser to the Central Committee, while polls show over 80 percent of Palestinians favoring his resignation and strong support for imprisoned rival Marwan Barghouti. Recent diplomacy, including September 2026 talks with Egypt’s President Sisi on reconciliation and Gaza, alongside a second consecutive U.S. visa denial for the UN General Assembly, underscores ongoing institutional control despite widespread dissatisfaction and factional realignments.