Likud MK Appeals to Supreme Court Against Party Court's Primary Election Ruling

Just days before the Likud primaries scheduled for Monday, MK Afif Abed has filed a petition to the Supreme Court challenging the Likud party court's decision to disallow incumbent MKs and ministers from running in regional slots. The party court had invalidated a vote by the Likud Central Committee that would have permitted such candidacies, citing procedural irregularities and ruling that sitting parliamentarians and ministers cannot compete in district races. Abed argues that the party court overstepped its authority, as the Likud constitution does not prohibit elected officials from running in districts, and that candidate eligibility is a political matter for party institutions, not the judiciary.

Abed's legal team contends that the district court acknowledged the party court's overreach but nonetheless upheld the practical outcome, which Abed seeks to overturn. The contested decision followed a narrow vote at the Likud convention, passing by only five votes, which was later annulled due to identified voting irregularities. This internal dispute reflects a broader political struggle within Likud, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to reshape the party list through changes in the primary system, such as reducing the number of districts and securing reserved slots for Netanyahu.

If the Supreme Court rules in Abed's favor, it could reopen the possibility for incumbents to run in district races, potentially altering the balance of power in the upcoming primaries and disrupting the current arrangements. The petition highlights the tension between allowing new candidates to enter the Knesset without directly competing against sitting MKs and the rights of incumbents to seek reelection in regional contests. The Supreme Court's decision is expected to have significant implications for the composition of the Likud list and the party's internal dynamics ahead of the election.