Israeli President Urges Parties to Forge Government, Avoid New Elections
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged political parties to work towards forming a government and avoid new elections after a high-turnout legislative vote. He will begin consultations with elected parties next week, calling for open minds amid inconclusive results. The appeal aims to prevent a repeat of the political instability that led to four elections between 2019 and 2021. The incumbent government will remain in power until a new one is formed, regardless of election outcomes.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- President Isaac Herzog called for all efforts to prevent new elections after Israel's legislative vote.
- The election saw the highest voter turnout in decades, which Herzog praised.
- Herzog will begin consultations with elected parties next week to form a government.
- Partial results show no clear majority for either of the main political blocs.
- The appeal aims to avoid a return to the political instability of 2019-2021.
- The outgoing government remains in power until a successor is formed.
President Isaac Herzog of Israel has called on political leaders to make every effort to prevent a new general election following Wednesday's legislative vote. Speaking at his Jerusalem residence during his "Time to Talk" initiative, Herzog described the election day as "truly impressive," noting the highest voter turnout in decades and praising the deep-rooted aspiration for democracy in Israeli society.
Herzog is scheduled to receive the official election results next week from Judge Noam Sohlberg, President of the Central Elections Committee. He will then begin consultations with all elected parties in the Knesset. The President urged all parties to approach these discussions with an open mind, as partial results indicate no clear majority for either of the main political blocs.
This appeal comes amid concerns of a return to the political instability Israel experienced between April 2019 and March 2021, when four elections were held within two years due to the inability of parties to form a lasting majority government. Herzog emphasized the need to avoid such a scenario, stating, "We must do everything, especially after yesterday's day, to avoid a new ballot."
Under Israeli law, the outgoing government remains in office until a successor is formed, even if new elections are called. This continuity could potentially benefit the incumbent Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, by allowing him to lead during negotiations and a potential new campaign. However, the article notes that this does not guarantee he would seek to block an agreement or that new elections would yield the same results, with no timeline for new elections currently set.
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