Knesset Speaker Delays Vote on Permanent Chair Amidst Controversy
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will delay a vote for a permanent Knesset Speaker by about a week, despite 67 lawmakers demanding an immediate vote. This mirrors a 2020 Supreme Court case where Speaker Yuli Edelstein defied a court order to hold such a vote. Separately, MK Liran Avishar Ben-Horin faces scrutiny over a potential conflict of interest in her appointment as Finance Committee Chair due to her husband's business ties.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will delay the permanent Speaker vote by about a week.
- 67 lawmakers demanded an immediate vote for a permanent Knesset Speaker.
- The delay echoes a 2020 Supreme Court case involving Yuli Edelstein.
- MK Liran Avishar Ben-Horin faces conflict of interest concerns as Finance Committee Chair.
- Her husband's PR firm represents powerful entities in the economy.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has announced he will take about a week to bring to a vote the selection of a permanent Speaker for the 24th Knesset, despite 67 lawmakers submitting signatures demanding an immediate vote. This delay echoes a similar situation in March 2020, when then-Speaker Yuli Edelstein refused to bring the election of a permanent Speaker to a vote, despite a Supreme Court order. The Supreme Court, in a rare move, compelled Edelstein to hold the vote, with then-President Esther Hayut criticizing his defiance as unprecedented and setting a poor example.
Edelstein's refusal was based on concerns about a "procedural malfunction" if the opposition were to elect a Speaker, a concern that could theoretically prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government. The Supreme Court rejected this argument, stating that the Knesset is sovereign and not a "cheerleading squad for the government." The court emphasized that the Speaker's decision not to bring the election to a vote was beyond his authority and thwarted the will of the voters.
Meanwhile, a political dispute has arisen over the appointment of MK Liran Avishar Ben-Horin of the "Achva" party as Chair of the Finance Committee. Concerns have been raised about a conflict of interest due to her husband's 50% partnership in a public relations firm representing powerful entities. While her qualifications are not in question, and she is seen as an improvement over her predecessor, the conflict of interest issue is considered serious, especially for a government that campaigned on tackling such issues.
The article suggests that the remedy for such conflicts, beyond full disclosure, is for MK Ben-Horin to recuse herself from discussions and decisions that could directly benefit her husband financially. If these instances are extensive, the appointment itself should be reconsidered. However, the article also cautions against imposing excessive restrictions on lawmakers, noting that voting cannot be delegated, but committee work might allow for recusal. It suggests Ben-Horin should be given an opportunity, and if she fails, the public outcry would be significant.
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