Will Benyamin Netanyahu return to the post of Israeli prime minister? Likud, the party of the chief executive, is in the lead after the legislative elections on March 23. But the absence of an absolute majority, after the counting of all the ballots, prolongs the suspense on his possible retention in power.
“Bibi”, as he is known, has already broken the longevity record for a head of government in Israel. He has held this post without interruption since 2009, having already been prime minister between 1996 and 1999. With 5,490 days in office, he is ahead of former heads of government, such as David Ben-Gurion, who created the post in May 1948 afterwards. proclaiming the creation of the State of Israel.
Despite his long years at the head of the executive, Benyamin Netanyahu has a divisive image in Israel. Being the subject of corruption charges, he is regularly challenged during demonstrations demanding his resignation.
Four legislative elections in two years
The Prime Minister has also had to contend for several years with the fragility of the coalitions on which he relies to stay in power. Another figure, also record, illustrates this political instability: Israel has had four legislative elections in less than two years – twenty-three months to be precise. Such a frequency had never been reached in the country since 1948. If the negotiations that started two days ago fail, the Israelis may have to return to the polls again in the coming months.
