Likud politicians ready to battle for shrinking number of spots in Monday primary
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"Polling stations will open across the country Monday for the 140,000 members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party to choose candidates for the party’s election slate, a closely watched contest that could heavily influence the character of the next government should the pro-Netanyahu bloc win in October..One of the few parties to determine its electoral lineup via primary, Likud has long prided itself on its internal democratic process. However, changes to the system this year pushed by Netanyahu shrinking the number of open spots on the roster have turned the vote into an unusually hotly contested race as party politicians jockey for a good enough showing to secure a likely Knesset seat.The results of the vote,…
Likud members will vote in a primary election on Monday to select candidates for the party's slate, a process made highly competitive by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's changes that reduced the number of open spots. These changes, which grant Netanyahu control over eight reserved slots within the top 29 positions, have sparked internal dissent, with critics like MK David Bitan arguing it favors handpicked loyalists over incumbent lawmakers. The primary results will indicate whether Likud continues its rightward shift or brings forward moderates amid growing dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's leadership. Despite the controversy, some, like MK Tally Gotliv, defend the system as democratic and anticipate a strong showing, aiming for a ministerial role. The competition intensified further after a court ruling canceled a change that would have allowed current and former lawmakers to compete for regional reserved slots, traditionally meant for new faces.
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