Likud C14 Primaries Show Major Setback for Senior Ministers, Rise of New Leadership
The recent C14 primaries for the Likud party reveal a significant shift in voter sentiment, with many senior ministers and veteran figures pushed to the bottom of the party's national list. The data, released shortly before the 2026 elections, indicates a clear rejection from the party base toward established leadership, signaling a demand for new faces and approaches within Likud.
Among the most notable setbacks was MK Gadi Yevarkan, who failed to secure any support and was placed last at number 40 on the list. Other senior figures such as Deputy Speaker Nissim Vaturi and Environment Minister Idit Silman received minimal backing, with only 18% support each. Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar garnered just 25%, Social Equality Minister May Golan 24%, and longtime Tourism Minister Haim Katz fell outside the top 30 with 23%. MK Keti Shitrit also saw her support drop to 16%, highlighting a broader political purge by the party's grassroots.
Conversely, candidates known for their hardline ideological stances gained significant traction. MK Tali Gottlieb led the list with 52% support, followed by Defense Minister Israel Katz at 45%, and MK Moshe Saada at 41%. Innovation Minister Gila Gamliel and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Boaz Bismuth also ranked highly, each with around 37% support, alongside Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The C14 platform, which allows Likud voters to build their preferred party list online, has provided a transparent and immediate reflection of grassroots preferences. This initiative enables voters to select candidates for the national list, regional representatives, and new entrants, influencing the party's composition ahead of official primaries. The results underscore a decisive message from Likud members: the era of automatic political immunity for senior ministers is over, and the party base demands fresh leadership and renewed ideological commitment.
