Politics & Government Guide · PalestinePolitics & Government Guide in Palestine
Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions
Palestine operates as a semi-presidential republic with a President (Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah) and Prime Minister (Mohammad Mustafa, Independent) leading a technocratic cabinet. The Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank under Israeli occupation with limited sovereignty, while Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Legislative Council remains largely inactive, with no effective parliamentary supervision of government operations.
Political Stability
Below Average
Government Type
Semi-presidential republic
Legal System
Mixed legal system based on Ottoman, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Israeli law, with the 2002 Basic Law (amended 2003, 2005) functioning as a temporary constitution
Head of State
President Mahmoud Abbas(since 2005)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa(Independent)since 2024
Political Indicators
Political Stability
Scale: 0-1
Unstable
World Bank Political Stability Index (2024)
Legislature
Major Political Parties
Center-left, nationalist
Islamist
Left-wing, nationalist
Voting Rights
Palestinian citizens aged 18 and above have the right to vote in presidential and legislative elections. The President is elected by universal direct suffrage for a 4-year term. The Palestinian Legislative Council comprises 132 members elected by universal suffrage for a 4-year mandate.
Recent Developments
- Mohammad Mustafa appointed as Prime Minister on March 31, 2024, replacing Mohammad Shtayyeh following cabinet resignation on February 26, 2024
- Formation of technocratic cabinet with majority independent ministers, signaling shift toward technocratic governance
- Farsin Ohanes Vartan Aghabikan appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on June 23, 2025
- Estephan Salameh appointed Minister of Finance and Planning on December 15, 2025
- Ongoing political division between Fatah-controlled West Bank Palestinian Authority and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip
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