In a move that has captured attention across the Middle East and around the world, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has announced that November 1 will be the date for the first-ever direct elections for the Palestinian National Council (PNC) — the parliament of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).
According to the official Wafa news agency, this marks an important turning point for Palestinian politics. Until now, members of the PNC were either appointed or selected from within the movement’s leadership, but this upcoming vote will allow Palestinians to choose their representatives directly — including those living outside historic Palestine.
In his decree, Abbas said that elections would be held “wherever possible, both inside and outside Palestine, to ensure the broadest possible participation of the Palestinian people wherever they reside.” This emphasis on inclusion reflects growing pressure within Palestinian society for more representative and transparent political processes.
The PNC has traditionally acted as the PLO’s parliament in exile. It has been dominated for decades by Fatah, the political movement co‑founded by Yasser Arafat, the iconic Palestinian leader who passed away in 2004. Other major Palestinian groups — such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad — are not part of the PLO, which means they will not have seats in this vote unless they choose to join the process in the future.
For many Palestinians, this announcement represents not just an election, but a symbol of hope for political renewal and a stronger voice in shaping their future.
