Pollster Warns Right-Wing Bloc Losing Votes to Small Parties
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Pollster Shlomo Filber warned that the right-wing bloc is losing potential Knesset seats due to votes for parties unlikely to pass the electoral threshold. He identified "Amcha Israel," led by Ofer Vinter, as a major drain, estimating that around 70,000 right-wing votes are being "burned" by this party alone. Filber stated that the bloc could secure 63-64 seats if voters act strategically and avoid supporting fringe parties, urging them to consolidate their votes for larger, viable parties.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Pollster Shlomo Filber warns right-wing bloc is losing votes to small parties.
- The "Amcha Israel" party is reportedly "burning" about 70,000 right-wing votes.
- Filber estimates that about 150,000 to 200,000 right-wing votes are lost to parties below the threshold.
- This loss of votes is equivalent to approximately four Knesset seats for the bloc.
- Filber urges strategic voting to prevent a repeat of the previous government.
Channel 14 pollster Shlomo Filber has issued a warning to the right-wing bloc, cautioning against complacency following a slight dip in recent polls. Filber stated that "burnt votes" cast for parties unlikely to pass the electoral threshold are preventing the bloc from securing a solid majority of 64 Knesset seats. He specifically highlighted the "Amcha Israel" party, led by Ofer Vinter, as a significant drain on right-wing support.
Filber explained that the current vote shifts are not due to a move towards the center-left, but rather to massive, multi-million shekel campaigns by fringe parties that are inflating their numbers. He noted that parties like "Ach"I," "Noam L'Yisrael," "HaTzionut HaDatit" (The Religious Zionism party), and "HaTzibur HaHaredi" (The Haredi Public) are drawing votes away from the main right-wing parties. The "Amcha Israel" party alone, he claimed, is currently "burning" approximately 70,000 right-wing votes, with similar numbers lost to other small parties, amounting to a loss of about four Knesset seats.
Filber asserted that his forecast for the right-wing bloc remains 63-64 seats, but this outcome depends on strategic voting. He urged voters not to be swayed by niche parties that perfectly align with their personal preferences, but to consider the broader bloc's success. He identified three key steps to regaining the lost seats: convincing voters considering independent candidates like Vinter, Yaron Zehlikha, or Avigdor Lieberman to vote for viable right-wing parties, preventing a split within the Haredi sector, and combating voter apathy to avoid a repeat of the previous "Bament-Lapid" government scenario.
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