Eisenkot Bloc Demands Knesset Speaker Vote by Tuesday; Likud Seeks Delay
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
A bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot has formally asked Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to hold a vote for his replacement by Tuesday. The opposition's change bloc aims to control the Knesset, with Yair Lapid as a leading candidate for speaker. Likud is reportedly trying to delay the vote and has plans to remove Lapid if elected. The timing of the vote is contingent on lawmaker requests, with Ohana stating he would schedule it within a week if requested by a majority.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot's bloc wants a Knesset Speaker vote by Tuesday, challenging Amir Ohana.
- Yair Lapid is the leading candidate for the Knesset Speaker position.
- The Likud party is reportedly working to delay the vote and potentially remove Lapid.
- An early vote requires an official request from at least 61 lawmakers.
- Replacing a Knesset Speaker mid-term currently needs 90 votes.
A bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot officially requested on Thursday that Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana schedule a vote for his successor as early as Tuesday, during the new parliament's inaugural session. This move is the first step in the "change bloc's" strategy to gain control of the Knesset before a new government is formed. Ohana stated that the election of a Knesset Speaker traditionally occurs when a government is formed. However, he noted that an early vote could be held if at least 61 lawmakers officially request it. "If a majority of deputies wants such a debate, I will set it for a near date, within a maximum of one week," he assured, denying accusations of clinging to his post. Opposition leaders in the change bloc have agreed to make replacing Ohana their top priority, with Yair Lapid emerging as the leading candidate for the position. Meanwhile, Likud officials are reportedly working to thwart this initiative, hoping internal disagreements within the change bloc will delay the vote and allow Ohana to remain temporarily in his role. The Likud also reportedly has a contingency plan if Lapid is elected: if a national unity government is established, the party might seek to change legislation to facilitate his removal. Currently, replacing a Knesset Speaker mid-term requires a majority of 90 lawmakers, a threshold considered difficult to reach in the current parliamentary makeup.
