Likud Fears Lieberman's Party Will Pass Threshold, Hurting Right-Wing Bloc
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The Likud party is increasingly concerned that Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu will pass the electoral threshold, potentially reducing the right-wing bloc's seat count to 57. This projection, based on preliminary counts from Likud observers, contrasts with earlier exit polls. The final results are still pending the counting of remaining ballots and special votes from security forces.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud fears Avigdor Lieberman's party will pass the electoral threshold, hindering right-wing government formation.
- Preliminary counts suggest the right-wing bloc may secure only 57 seats, four short of a majority.
- Likud itself is projected to win 28 seats based on current vote tallies.
- This projection differs from earlier exit polls that predicted more seats for the right-wing bloc.
- The final election results depend on counting remaining ballots and special votes from security forces.
Within the Likud party, there is a growing concern that Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party will successfully pass the electoral threshold, a development that could significantly hinder the right-wing bloc's ability to form a government. Current vote counts from Likud observers suggest the right-wing bloc is projected to win only 57 seats, four short of the 61 needed for a majority, while the Likud party itself is estimated to secure 28 seats.
These projections, based on the counting of approximately 64.5% of polling stations and over 3 million votes, present a more complex picture than earlier exit poll estimates. A previous poll by Shlomo Filber had predicted 62 seats for the right-wing bloc and 31 for Likud, partly based on the assumption that Lieberman's party would not pass the threshold. However, reports from Likud poll watchers indicate that Lieberman's potential success is weakening the national camp's overall strength, leaving it with an estimated 57 seats.
The Likud observers' data is not an official Central Elections Committee publication but offers a broad indication of the vote trend, representing about 53.1% of all voters. The final outcome remains uncertain, with nearly 3,900 polling stations yet to be counted. The tally of double envelopes and ballots from IDF soldiers and security forces, which will begin later, could dramatically alter the final seat distribution, particularly for parties near the electoral threshold.
