Palestine's Abbas names deputy al-Sheikh as successor if presidency is vacated

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on Sunday naming his vice president, Hussein al-Sheikh, as acting president in the event of a vacancy.

The decree stipulates that if the president dies or becomes incapacitated, the vice president will assume the role for up to 90 days, during which elections for a new president must be held.

If elections cannot be held within that period due to exceptional circumstances, the Palestinian Central Council may extend the interim term once, the decree adds.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from opponents, who have called it unconstitutional. Under Palestinian law, the speaker of parliament - last elected from Hamas in 2006 - is next in line for succession.

However, the new declaration places the vice president - a recently created position - next in line in the absence of a functioning parliament, which has not been elected since 2006.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the PA’s “unilateral changes to the political system” violate basic law and are an attempt to “exploit the situation for the benefit of specific factions”.

He said the move “distorts the political system and complicates any prospects for reform”.

Qassem added that Hamas would continue efforts to reform the political system “within a framework of national consensus” and pursue “true Palestinian unity to confront the unprecedented challenges facing the Palestinian cause”.

In April, Sheikh was appointed vice president of the state of Palestine and the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) - two newly created positions. 

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The decision was criticised at the time by Hamas, as an "entrenchment of monopoly and exclusion".

Sheikh, a close confidant of Abbas, previously served as the minister responsible for coordinating security matters with the Israeli occupation. 

As a result, he enjoys close ties with Israeli military leaders and maintains good relations with American diplomats. Despite his standing, he commands little support among Palestinians.

Sheikh would have received only three percent of the vote if a presidential election had been held in 2022, according to a survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

His reputation has also been dented by allegations that he sexually harassed a female employee in 2012.

Foreign Policy magazine recently revealed that $100,000 in hush money was paid to ensure the claim against him was withdrawn. 

Sheikh has refused to address questions regarding the allegations.