Israel Beiteinu MK Declares 61 Knesset Seats, Not Mandate Size, Determines Next PM

Oded Forer, a senior Member of Knesset for the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has issued a significant political statement that could reshape the post-election government formation landscape. Forer clarified that his party's support for forming the next government would not automatically go to the party with the largest number of seats, directly challenging the presumed aspirations of center-left leaders like Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot.

"Whoever succeeds in assembling 61 Knesset members around him, he will be the prime minister," Forer stated, emphasizing that the ability to secure a majority coalition is the sole criterion for his party's endorsement. He expressed hope that Avigdor Lieberman, his party leader, would be the one to form the next government, but reiterated that the ultimate determinant would be the formation of a 61-seat majority.

This stance complicates the plans of parties like Bennett's and Eisenkot's. Even if they win considerably more seats than Yisrael Beiteinu, their recommendation to the president to form a government is no longer guaranteed. Forer's remarks neutralize the automatic link between a party's mandate size and its eligibility to receive the first chance at forming a government, potentially complicating coalition-building efforts for all blocs after the election.