Likud Primaries Leave Senior Ministers Out Despite Millions in Campaign Funding

The final results of the Likud party primaries have left several incumbent ministers and Knesset members outside realistic spots on the party's list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. Notable figures who failed to secure winnable positions include Ministers Avi Dichter, May Golan, Idit Silman, and Zeev Elkin. Alongside them, other well-known candidates such as Amit Halevi, Avichai Boaron, Hanoch Milwitsky, Keti Shitrit, Eti Atiya, Ariel Kallner, Nissim Vaturi, Shalom Danino, Sasson Guetta, and Osher Shekalim also missed out on favorable placements.

Financially, the cost of competing in the primaries was significant. Each of the 14 candidates who did not secure realistic list positions received 380,000 shekels in campaign funding, totaling over 5 million shekels allocated to unsuccessful contenders. Despite these setbacks, the final list order is not necessarily definitive. The number of Likud seats won in the election will determine who enters the Knesset, and subsequent resignations under the Norwegian Law could allow some candidates further down the list to gain seats.

This outcome highlights the competitive and costly nature of the Likud primaries, with established politicians facing challenges in securing their political futures ahead of the national elections.