Likud primaries may be scrapped, with Netanyahu to determine the election slate

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is advancing a new plan for selecting Likud’s Knesset list, under which a steering committee would determine the order of candidates up to the 32nd slot. As part of the proposal, Netanyahu would be able to place seven candidates in slots reserved at his discretion.

The move still requires approval by the movement’s institutions.

According to the plan that Netanyahu is demanding, a steering committee made up of mayors and public figures would set the order of the list up to the 32nd place. As party chairman, Netanyahu would be able to place seven candidates in reserved positions of his choosing.

The effort is being advanced in part because seven members of the faction have left during the current Knesset, along with claims raised in the State Comptroller’s report regarding flaws in the membership registration process.

During a recent discussion, Netanyahu argued that holding primaries costs about 12 million shekels and could encourage greater extremism in the selection of candidates.

For the move to take effect, it will need approval by a simple majority in Likud’s constitution committee, the party secretariat and the Likud convention.