Likud Prepares Contingency Plan for Lapid's Potential Knesset Speaker Election

As the 26th Knesset prepares to be sworn in next week, the "Change Bloc" coalition aims to elect a new Knesset Speaker, with Yair Lapid being the favored candidate. Leaders within the bloc have indicated that one of their heads should assume the role, increasing Lapid's chances. Meanwhile, coalition parties are gathering signatures to compel current Speaker Amir Ohana to hold a special session for the election.

However, the Likud party is actively working to thwart this plan. Ohana intends to postpone the vote for a new Speaker until a week after the Knesset's swearing-in. The Likud hopes that internal disagreements within the Change Bloc will lead to further delays, thereby hindering the bloc's ability to consolidate control over the Knesset. The Likud has also devised a contingency plan: should a unity government be formed, they intend to amend legislation to facilitate the removal of a Knesset Speaker. Currently, removing a Speaker requires a majority of 90 Knesset members, a threshold the Likud believes will be difficult to achieve in the new Knesset composition.

In parallel, the Change Bloc is outlining its initial legislative priorities for the new Knesset. These include repealing laws related to the Attorney General's office, the committee for selecting judges, and the Police Internal Investigations Department. They also plan to establish key committees, such as the Arrangements Committee, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Finance Committee, and other special committees, to ensure the Knesset's functional capacity.