Democrats Party CEO Accused of Favoring Candidates in Primaries, Internal Recording Reveals

A leaked recording and testimonies from candidates in the Democratic Party primaries have exposed serious allegations against the party's CEO, Omer Lovton, and chairman Yair Golan, accusing them of unequal treatment and favoritism in resource allocation. The recording, obtained by ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, features Roy Sagman, the party's internal auditor, admitting that Lovton acts politically by promoting certain candidates while sidelining others, contrary to party policy. Sagman explained that Lovton views himself as both secretary-general and CEO, blending administrative and political roles, which allows him to influence candidate promotion.

Additional evidence includes a WhatsApp message exchange where Golan dismisses claims from a female candidate alleging deliberate exclusion from party events, responding sarcastically and emphasizing the need for the party headquarters to maintain secrecy. Party insiders noted that the candidate had prior tensions with the leadership. The primaries, which officially began on June 29, involve 51 candidates competing for about 10 realistic spots, including incumbent Knesset members and promised representation for Meretz.

Many candidates claim that Lovton, closely linked to MK Naama Lazimi and candidate Yaya Pink, uses party resources to support favored contenders. There are also accusations that the party refuses to release the full membership list citing privacy concerns, while some favored candidates allegedly obtained and traded the list for political deals. A lawsuit filed by some members of the party's supreme decision-making body accuses the leadership of obstructing access to delegate information needed to convene a meeting to discuss these issues.

The Democratic Party responded by affirming its commitment to a fair and professional primary process under Lovton's leadership. Sagman also stated that his comments were taken out of context and that the party conducts equitable elections for the Knesset list.