Palestine Liberation Organization approves creation of vice president position

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) attends a two-day Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council meeting in the West Bank City of Ramallah, on April 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Central Council approved on Thursday the creation of the position of vice president for its executive committee, the official news agency WAFA reported.

According to WAFA, the vice president will be selected from the current members of the executive committee, following a nomination by the committee's chairman and approval by its members.

The chairman will also have the authority to assign duties, dismiss vice presidents, or accept their resignations, said the report.

The decision was adopted during a session of the PLO's Central Council held in the West Bank city of Ramallah, with the attendance of 170 members, including some via video link. One member voted against the move, while another abstained.

This marks the first time such a position has been established since the PLO's founding.

The initiative for a vice presidency was first announced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the emergency Arab summit in Cairo in early March, amid growing calls for reforms within the Palestinian political system.

The decision is seen as a significant development in shaping the next phase of the Palestinian political process.