The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was appointed Tuesday April 6 to form the next government, the day after consultations between the president, Réouven Rivlin, and the parties elected in the legislative elections of March 23, the fourth in less than two years.
“I made my decision on the basis of the recommendations (of the parties), which indicate that the deputy Benyamin Netanyahu has a greater possibility of forming a government”, the president said in a televised address. “That’s why I decided to ask him to form a government. “
“It’s not an easy decision for me, both morally and ethically”, added this former member of Likud, the party of Benyamin Netanyahu (on the right), while the prime minister is being prosecuted for corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases. Coincidentally, his trial resumed yesterday in Jerusalem.
Support for the ultra-Orthodox and the far right
Usually, the president appoints the candidate who has received the support of 61 deputies, but “No candidate has a real possibility” to reach this threshold, said Réouven Rivlin. The prime minister won the legislative elections on March 23 without a clear majority. But on Monday, 52 members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, had recommended that the president task the prime minister with forming the next government. Likud won the most parliamentary seats (30 out of 120) in the elections and received support from ultra-Orthodox parties and, on the far right, religious Zionism.
In the opposite camp, determined to oust the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history from power, 45 deputies had supported the centrist Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party.
Benjamin Netanyahu holds another record: he is the first head of government in the country’s history to face criminal charges while in office, charges he firmly denies. “I know the position that many share, that the president should not give this task to a candidate who faces criminal charges, but, depending on the law and the court ruling, a prime minister can continue to play his role. even when faced with accusations ”, said the Israeli president on Tuesday.
A deeply divided political landscape
For the time being, the trial of Benyamin Netanyahu does not threaten his ambitions since he would only have to resign in the event of a final conviction. However, it could take years for all remedies to be exhausted.
The Prime Minister’s task promises to be complex as the country is divided: the political landscape is fragmented, with 13 parties sharing the 120 seats in Parliament. Benyamin Netanyahu, 71, could reach out to his former colt Naftali Bennett, who has become a leader of the radical right.
The latter did not recommend Mr. Netanyahu or Mr. Lapid and has not yet expressed his intentions. He announced the holding of a press conference Tuesday afternoon before the swearing-in of the new deputies.
