Likud Urges Supreme Court to Decide Today to Avoid Primary Election Delay
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The Likud party has appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to decide today on candidate eligibility for upcoming district primaries, warning that without a ruling, the primaries scheduled for next Monday may be canceled. The party faces significant financial and logistical challenges if the primaries are delayed. Prime Minister Netanyahu is actively shaping the candidate list, reserving spots for key ministers and aiming to present a more moderate slate.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Likud requests Supreme Court ruling today to prevent primary election delay.
- District court barred current and former officials from running in district primaries.
- Delaying primaries could cost Likud over 5.5 million shekels and cause logistical issues.
- Netanyahu plans to reserve spots for key ministers and a businessman on the party list.
- Likud has 142,000 eligible voters, with 60% considered independent members.
- Netanyahu aims for a moderate list to regain lost voters amid tough competition.
The Likud party has requested the Israeli Supreme Court to issue a ruling today (Wednesday) regarding the eligibility of candidates running in the party's district primaries scheduled for next Monday. This urgent appeal follows a district court decision that rejected a petition by Knesset member Afif Abed, which effectively bars current and former Knesset members, ministers, and deputy ministers from competing in the district primaries. Without a Supreme Court decision, the upcoming primaries face the risk of cancellation.
Aviad Azar, the Likud primaries project manager, warned party CEO David Sharan about the significant financial and logistical consequences of postponing the primaries. Azar noted that if preparations do not begin by 4 p.m. Wednesday, the execution of the primaries would be jeopardized, potentially costing the party over 5.5 million shekels and involving a complex operational challenge.
Ahead of the primaries, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to reserve spots on the Likud list for Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz. Businessman Oren Dovronsky, known from the TV show "The Sharks," is also expected to receive a reserved high-ranking spot.
Likud has approximately 142,000 eligible voters, with about 60% considered "free" members, while the rest are affiliated with major patrons or organized groups. The primaries are highly competitive, influenced by the party's current polling status and the number of reserved list positions. Netanyahu is heavily involved in shaping a more moderate and balanced list to regain voters who have left the party, recently pushing to increase his ability to reserve candidates on the list.
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