Anti-Netanyahu bloc considering introducing bill for direct PM elections to break political deadlock
The proposal would allow voters to elect the prime minister separately from the government, potentially enabling a candidate who wins the direct contest to form a minority administration without securing a majority in the 120-member Knesset. Netanyahu had also pushed a similar proposal following the inconclusive March 2021 election, when his efforts to assemble a governing coalition had stalled. Protests planned in support of Jewish-Arab coalition Tuesday’s election saw the opposition secure 67 seats against 53 for the coalition. However, the opposition’s tally includes 48 seats won by Zionist parties and 19 secured by Arab non-Zionist parties, whose support Jewish opposition leaders had previously been reluctant to accept. The final official election results will be submitted to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 4, following checks into possible errors and other inquiries. The newly elected Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10.
Israel’s opposition bloc is considering legislation to introduce direct elections for prime minister in a bid to break the political deadlock following Tuesday’s inconclusive election and potentially form a minority government without relying on Arab parties, according to The Times of Israel. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s bloc nor the opposition secured a majority in Tuesday’s election, leaving both sides struggling to find a viable arrangement to form the next government.