Economy Minister Nir Barkat Invests $200,000 in Primary Bid
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Economy Minister Nir Barkat personally contributed 744,000 shekels to his Likud primary campaign, nearly double the legal limit for incumbents. Despite this investment, he was ranked 24th on the party's Knesset list, potentially keeping him out of parliament if current poll averages hold. This follows a previous fine for overspending in the 2022 primaries, and the State Comptroller is expected to review his latest financial disclosures.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Economy Minister Nir Barkat personally funded his Likud primary campaign with 744,000 shekels.
- Barkat's spending nearly doubled the legal limit of 380,000 shekels for incumbent candidates.
- He was ranked 24th on the Likud list, potentially jeopardizing his Knesset seat.
- Barkat was previously fined 50,000 shekels for overspending in the 2022 primaries.
- The State Comptroller is expected to review Barkat's latest financial reports.
Minister of Economy Nir Barkat personally funded his Likud party's primary election campaign with 744,000 shekels (approximately $200,000), according to data from the State Comptroller's website. Despite this significant personal investment, Barkat did not secure a high enough position on the party's list for the 26th Knesset, ultimately being placed 24th after accounting for reserved slots. In the August primaries, Barkat received about 23,000 votes, placing him 15th nationally.
Barkat's self-funding, which occurred over nine separate instances culminating on October 8, nearly doubled the legal spending limit for an incumbent candidate, set at 380,000 shekels. This limit is part of a 2018 amendment to the Parties Law, initiated by MK David Amsalem, which aims to reduce politicians' reliance on wealthy donors by capping campaign expenses and limiting private fundraising. While Knesset members can use personal funds or contributions from family, these are also subject to legal restrictions.
This is not the first time Barkat's primary funding has drawn scrutiny. Following the 2022 Likud primaries, the State Comptroller fined him 50,000 shekels for exceeding the spending limit by approximately 70%, spending about 561,000 shekels. The Comptroller is expected to review Barkat's latest financial reports to determine if any regulations were breached.
Barkat's 24th-place ranking on the Likud list, a drop from his top-ten finish in previous primaries, casts doubt on his entry into the next Knesset. A recent Globes poll aggregator, averaging major media polls, places Likud at only 23 seats. If this holds true, Barkat would likely not enter the Knesset initially, though final results depend on the vote count, with some polls showing Likud gaining up to 30 seats.