How Israel Can Form a Government Without a Majority
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
Israeli law allows for the formation of minority governments that do not hold an absolute majority of 61 Knesset seats. These governments can function by securing external support through agreements or case-by-case negotiations. Israel has seen minority governments in the past, including those led by Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Ehud Barak. While not inherently stable, minority governments are a legitimate parliamentary mechanism to overcome political impasses.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli law permits minority governments to form and function without a 61-seat majority in the Knesset.
- Minority governments can secure support through formal agreements or by negotiating individual votes.
- Past Israeli governments, including those of Rabin, Peres, and Barak, have operated as minority governments.
- External support for a minority government can involve legislative backing and budget allocations.
- A government can only be removed if 61 MKs vote for an alternative or to dissolve the Knesset.
Israel's Knesset has 120 members, requiring 61 seats for an absolute majority. However, Israeli law does not mandate a coalition to hold 61 seats to form a government. A minority government can function with fewer than 61 seats if it secures support from Knesset members outside the coalition. This support can manifest as votes in favor, abstentions, or absences during crucial votes. For a vote of confidence, only a simple majority of those present and voting is needed, with abstentions or absences not counting as opposition.
There are two primary models for minority governments. The first involves a stable external support network, often called a "safety net," where parties not in the government sign agreements to support it on critical votes like no-confidence motions and budget approvals. In return, these supporting parties receive budgets, legislative wins, and political achievements. The second model relies on assembling support on a case-by-case basis for each vote, requiring continuous negotiations and concessions.
Minority governments have been formed in Israel's past. Yitzhak Rabin's second government in 1993, after the Shas party left the coalition, relied on support from the Democratic Front for Peace and the Arab Democratic Party. Shimon Peres's government in 1995 operated similarly, depending on Arab bloc support. Ehud Barak's government in 2000 began as a broad coalition but devolved into a minority government with only 32 seats by August 2000, eventually leading to special elections.
Forming a minority government is legally permissible. To oust a government, the opposition must muster 61 votes for an alternative government or pass a law to dissolve the Knesset. Failure to pass the state budget by the legal deadline also automatically dissolves the Knesset. While not a stable or comfortable arrangement, minority governments serve as a parliamentary tool to break political deadlocks and enable a functioning government even without a pre-established majority.
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