Knesset Speaker Election Timing Debated Amid Political Maneuvering
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
A dispute has arisen over the customary timing for electing the Knesset Speaker, with current Speaker Amir Ohana claiming it's during government formation. Data shows, however, that in 72% of cases, the Speaker is elected before the government is sworn in. Experts like Dr. Assaf Shapira from the Israel Democracy Institute dispute Ohana's claim, citing legal precedents and past practices. Ohana's office countered, referencing a law change and specific historical instances, but the analysis maintains his claim is incorrect.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Knesset Speaker is elected before government swearing-in in 72% of cases, contrary to some claims.
- Current Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana stated the accepted practice is election during government formation.
- Dr. Assaf Shapira of the Israel Democracy Institute called Ohana's claim "markedly incorrect."
- Knesset regulations set the government swearing-in as the latest possible date for Speaker election.
- Political factions are vying for the Speaker position due to its control over the legislative agenda.
A debate is intensifying over the timing of the Knesset Speaker election, a position that grants significant control over the legislative agenda. While some argue that the customary time to elect a new Speaker is when the government is sworn in, data suggests this is not the prevailing practice.
According to Knesset regulations, the Speaker must be elected no later than the convening of the Knesset for government formation. However, this is a deadline, and elections can occur earlier. An analysis of past Knessets reveals that in 72% of cases, the Speaker was elected before the government was sworn in, often on the same day the Knesset convened. The practice of electing the Speaker on or just before the government's swearing-in ceremony occurred in only about 20% of instances.
Current Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana stated that the accepted practice is to elect the Speaker when the government is formed. However, Dr. Assaf Shapira from the Israel Democracy Institute refutes this, stating there is no basis for such a claim and that it is "markedly incorrect." Shapira also noted that Supreme Court rulings and legal counsel directives clarify that if 61 Knesset members request a vote to replace the Speaker, the current Speaker is obligated to convene a session for this purpose.
Ohana's office responded by arguing that the law was changed about a decade ago, allowing the previous Speaker to continue in the new Knesset, and that this should be considered in light of current legal status. They cited several Knessets where the Speaker was not elected on the opening day, including instances where the government was not formed or where a legal precedent was set by the Supreme Court regarding the obligation to hold a vote when a majority requests it. The response also pointed to instances where the Speaker was elected after the government was sworn in or significantly later than the Knesset's opening.
However, the analysis counters that focusing on the post-law change period involves only a few Knessets and that the circumstances surrounding these elections do not indicate a firmly established custom. The article concludes that Ohana's assertion is factually incorrect, with the Speaker elected before the government's swearing-in in the vast majority of cases.
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