Netanyahu Begins Coalition Talks as Opposition Bloc Eyes Knesset Speaker Post
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun preliminary coalition talks with party leaders, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Meanwhile, opposition parties are discussing a strategy to replace the Knesset Speaker, citing a Supreme Court ruling. The "Change Bloc" aims to secure the position before a new government is formed, while United Torah Judaism is reportedly considering abstaining from a vote on the current Speaker's removal. Netanyahu's bloc has 53 mandates, the opposition has 48, and Arab parties hold 19.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu began coalition talks with party leaders after preliminary election results.
- Opposition parties are coordinating to replace the Knesset Speaker before government formation.
- A 2020 Supreme Court ruling supports holding a Knesset Speaker vote if 61 MKs demand it.
- Netanyahu's bloc has secured 53 mandates, while the opposition bloc has 48.
- Arab parties hold 19 mandates, giving them potential decisive power.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has initiated initial discussions with party leaders following the preliminary election results, excluding absentee ballots. According to a report by "Walla!", Netanyahu spoke with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Further conversations are planned with ultra-Orthodox representatives. This move occurs concurrently with strategic talks among the "Change Bloc" parties. Earlier, Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yesh!" party, Naftali Bennett, chairman of "Together," and Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of "Yisrael Beiteinu," were reported to be coordinating strategic actions against the Prime Minister.
The primary objective of the opposition bloc is to replace the Knesset Speaker before the new government is formed. This strategy is based on a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that mandates a vote for a new Knesset Speaker if 61 lawmakers request it, even before a government is established. Control over the legislative agenda, a key function of the Knesset Speaker, makes the position strategically vital for both political blocs.
Reports indicate that the United Torah Judaism party is considering abstaining from a vote on removing the current Knesset Speaker, Amir Ohana, should such a proposal arise. Based on the count of 88% of the votes, Netanyahu's bloc secured 53 mandates (Likud 26, Shas 7, United Torah Judaism 7, Otzma Yehudit 7, Religious Zionism-Identity 6). The "Change Bloc" garnered 48 mandates ("Yesh!" 21, "Together" 12, "Democrats" 8, "Yisrael Beiteinu" 7). The Arab parties, the Joint List with 12 mandates and Ra'am with 7, hold the decisive power with a combined 19 mandates.
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