Mahmoud Abbas, the 90-year-old Palestinian Authority president in power since 2005 without facing voters since his term expired, faces persistent questions about his tenure amid advanced age and widespread domestic unpopularity. In October 2025 he issued a decree designating PLO Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh as interim successor for up to 90 days (extendable once) pending elections in the event of incapacity or death. Legislative elections are scheduled for November 28, 2026—the first in two decades—while presidential voting has been referenced for 2027, though past cancellations and current Fatah internal divisions raise doubts about timing. Abbas has also elevated his son Yasser within the Fatah Central Committee and advanced constitutional and reform measures to address international donor concerns and PA governance critiques. Potential successors discussed include al-Sheikh, imprisoned Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti, and others such as Jibril Rajoub, with polls consistently showing strong public preference for change. These dynamics, alongside ongoing West Bank security coordination and post-Gaza war positioning, shape trader assessments of near-term leadership transition risks.