Netanyahu Bloc Could Reach 63 Seats Under Specific Conditions, Likud Polls Suggest
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Internal Likud polls suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc could win 61 seats, potentially reaching 63 if smaller parties withdraw from the election race. The party is focusing on increasing right-wing voter turnout and preventing vote loss to minor parties. Likud also expressed skepticism about President Isaac Herzog's efforts to form a post-election unity government, a claim denied by the President's office.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Internal Likud polls suggest Netanyahu's bloc could win 61 seats, potentially reaching 63 if certain parties withdraw.
- The Likud party is prioritizing increased right-wing voter turnout and reduced vote leakage to smaller parties.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu has identified boosting turnout and minimizing lost votes as key election objectives.
- Likud sources express doubt about President Isaac Herzog's ability to form a broad unity government post-election.
- The President's office denied reports of discussions about a unity government before election results are finalized.
Internal Likud polls indicate that the bloc supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could secure 61 seats, and potentially up to 63, in the upcoming elections, provided certain conditions are met. According to reports in Maariv, these polls suggest that if parties led by Yoaz Hendel, Yaron Zelekha, and Ofer Winter withdraw from the race before the elections, Netanyahu's bloc could significantly increase its mandate. Even if these parties remain in the running but weaken due to a negative campaign, the bloc might maintain its current strength. However, if these parties fail to pass the electoral threshold and collectively lose two to three seats, it could negatively impact the right-wing bloc. Despite this, Likud maintains that even in such a scenario, their internal polls show a path to 61 seats.
To bolster their position, Likud is emphasizing the need to increase voter turnout among right-wing supporters and strengthen grassroots activity, efforts estimated to yield an additional three seats. The party also aims to reduce vote leakage to smaller right-wing parties that might not cross the electoral threshold. Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly identified increasing bloc voter turnout and minimizing lost votes to smaller parties as key objectives for the election campaign.
Simultaneously, political pressure is being applied to Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha. In private conversations, Netanyahu has expressed a desire for security calm until the elections, countering claims that he might benefit from a security flare-up beforehand.
Within Likud, there is skepticism regarding President Isaac Herzog's initiative to form a broad unity government after the elections. Party officials claim no practical proposal has been received and no exploratory talks have occurred. A Likud source commented that Herzog has nothing to offer and that a broad unity government is currently unfeasible, contrasting the current political reality with that of his father, Chaim Herzog, who succeeded in forming one. Sources in the 'Change Bloc' also report no contact on this matter. The President's office denied these claims, stating that Herzog has not discussed a unity government with any candidate or Knesset member and is not currently focused on government composition, which will be addressed after the election results are known.
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