Shas Chairman Deri Predicts Right-Wing Bloc Could Reach 67 Seats
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Shas Chairman Arie Deri predicted the right-wing bloc could win up to 67 seats in the upcoming Knesset elections, exceeding current poll projections. He urged smaller right-wing parties to unite to prevent wasted votes, citing recent polls showing some parties falling below the electoral threshold. Deri also criticized proposed legislation that would prevent indicted individuals from serving as prime minister, calling it a sign of fear from opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shas Chairman Arie Deri predicts the right-wing bloc could win 67 seats, surpassing current poll estimates.
- Deri urged smaller right-wing parties to unite to prevent vote wastage and maximize their electoral strength.
- Recent polls show some right-wing parties struggling to pass the electoral threshold, risking lost votes.
- Deri criticized proposed legislation barring indicted individuals from serving as prime minister.
- He views the "accused law" initiatives as a sign of fear from opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Less than two weeks before the Knesset elections, Shas party Chairman Arie Deri expressed optimism about the right-wing bloc's potential performance, suggesting it could secure significantly more seats than current polls indicate. While a recent analysis by Shlomo Philber projected the right-wing bloc at 62 seats, with the Likud leading at 29 and Shas at 10, Deri believes the outcome could be even more favorable.
In a television interview, Deri urged supporters to "cheer up," stating that the right-wing bloc could potentially win 64, 66, or even 67 seats. He emphasized that the key to this success lies with smaller right-wing parties, some of which are currently struggling to pass the electoral threshold. Deri hopes these parties will unite in the final week before the election, predicting a victory of 65 to 67 seats if the right consolidates.
Deri also voiced concern over wasted votes, citing the "Reservists-Economic" party, which dropped below the threshold after previously polling at four seats, and Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party, which received only 2.7%. Philber himself warned that Winter's party could cost the right-wing bloc approximately 70,000 votes, estimating that without such losses, the bloc could reach at least 63-64 seats.
The interview also touched upon the "accused law," which aims to prevent individuals facing criminal charges from serving as prime minister. Deri strongly criticized these initiatives, viewing them as a sign of fear from opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an indication of their lack of confidence in winning at the ballot box. He argued that such "dictatorial and crazy laws" are only proposed when one is afraid and lacks electoral answers. The debate over eligibility for public office, particularly for prime minister, has resurfaced as a central issue in the election campaign, alongside the struggle for every vote that could determine the next government.
Mentioned
