Premier of Palestine

The Premier of Palestine (Arabic: رئيس وزراء فلسطين ra’īs wuzrā’ falasṭīn) is the head of government of the Palestinian Arab Republic, one of the 20 republics (federated states) of the Arab Union. The Premier of Palestine is elected indirectly: the Palestine Arab Congress, Palestine's unicameral legislative assembly, holds a congressional election every three years. Following the election, the political party or coalition holding the most seats in congress (either a plurality or majority) is eligible to form government, and nominates one of its members (typically the party leader or another senior member) as Premier of Palestine, who is then ceremonially appointed to the position by the President of the Arab Union.

Following his election, the new Premier of Palestine appoints individuals (typically members of his party or allied parties) to positions in his cabinet (the Council of Ministers), namely the Deputy Premier and the ministers each responsible for a particular ministry (executive department), who in turn appoint the directors of the multiple directorates and other agencies under their ministry's jurisdiction. Below the level of agency directors, the machinery of government is staffed by civil servants and other professionals hired by human resources, who typically remain in their position following the formation of a new government.

The Premier of Palestine and his government must maintain the confidence of the Palestine Arab Congress in order to remain in office, as a simple majority vote of no confidence is sufficient to remove an incumbent premier and/or dissolve his government. The President of the Arab Union also has the power to remove a premier and/or dissolve his government via executive order. According to the Constitution of the Arab Union, following a premier's removal from office and/or dissolution of government by either method, a new congressional election must be held within two weeks in order to choose a new government.