Posted on 09/25/2019 4:48:13 PM PDT by billorites
In the aftermath of last week’s inconclusive elections, Israeli president Reuven Rivlin has asked Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government. Netanyahu has until October 24 to do so.
Rivlin declared that Netanyahu, the current prime minister, has the best chance to form a government. I think Rivlin is correct that Netanyahu has a better chance of doing so than his main opponent, Benny Gantz, who specializes in declaring victory but not in achieveing it.
But that doesn’t mean Netanyahu will succeed. He couldn’t accomplish this task after the April elections in which his party fared better than it did last week.
Netanyahu needs the support of 61 Knesset members. He already has a bloc of 55. To get to 61 he would need backing from Yisrael Beytenu, Labor-Gesher, or Blue and White. As the Jerusalem Post notes, each has repeatedly refused to support Netanyahu, because they won’t serve with the religious parties in his coalition or because they won’t serve with a prime minister who is under criminal investigation (or both).
Netanyahu put it best when he said: “My inability to form a government is slightly less than that of Gantz.”
If Netanyahu fails, Gantz would likely get the next crack. Rivlin made it a condition of giving the mandate to Netanyahu that he return it if he fails to form a government, rather than calling for new elections in order to block someone else from trying to form one. That’s what Netanyahu did after the last elections.
If no one with the mandate is able to form a government, ordinarily the next step would be new elections. However, Rivlin raised another possibility. He noted that, by law, after the candidate with a mandate fails to form a government, instead of giving the mandate to another candidate, the Knesset can choose a candidate if 61 Knesset members support him (or her).
This would be an extraordinary step. However, if it could be done, it would avoid yet another election. Rivlin was surely correct when he stated: “The people do not want additional elections.”
But Netanyahu and Gantz are able party leaders. If neither can get to 61, it’s far from clear that Knesset members could do so on their own.
Netanyahu or no one.
Wow.
Everyday I’m more impressed with our Founders wisdom.
What an eff-ed up system of Government!
They have one of the greatest PMs they’re EVER had, and they don’t want to keep him in charge? At least they’re asking him for assistance!
As a Jew (who was raised Lutheran), I’ll never understand the self-loathing death wish of fellow Jews, foreign or domestic. Oy! You people! ;)
That's the esteemed prime minister's plan. He needs a third election to retain protection against resigning after indictment.
Quite a saint.
Oops! Ping to Post #4.
Sorry MRS Smith? Disregard transmission! :)
LOL!
There is no “Mrs Smith”.
Israel’s system of government looks great on paper.
But then again, so does ours (USA)
and they’re both f***ed up
(yes, each has a capable person at the very top, but right after that...chaos, corruption, sedition, or treason rule the day)
and i won’t even attempt to discuss UK
There IS a ‘Mrs Smith’ on FR.
See? Just as Granny said - there is a lid for every pot! ;)
Your Dream Girl IS out there - and she won’t even have to change the Monogram on your Wedding Gifts! :)
Whoa!
I don’t see the comparison is justified.
Yeah, I wish!
Woulda had a “Mrs Smith” but she passed away after a stroke.
Been a couple years, but I still miss her terribly.
‘I’m a lonely frog, ain’t got no home...”
We’re not yet to the point where the capital gets moved to Megiddo. :^)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3781236/posts?page=20#20
There are 30 parties in Israel
Proportional representation - to win a seat takes about 3 % 3of total vote Seats are awarded based on proportion of vote
To form a government takes coalition of several parties
to have a majority
When was the last time that someone from either the #1 or #2 parties was a Prime Minister?
I think the only time it (Speaker of the House) happened in the USA was in the 34th Congress: Nathaniel Banks (American, or “Know-Nothing” Party) - no party held a majority of seats.
I meant neither the #1 or #2 party.
((Hugs))
Yes, I understand their Government - it’s just ridiculously complicated!
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