Israeli President Herzog to begin coalition consultations on Wednesday in hopes to form new gov't
Herzog has urged political leaders to enter the discussions with “an open mind,” emphasizing the need to avoid a fresh vote
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations with Knesset parties on Wednesday, November 4, launching the process of forming a government after parliamentary elections left neither major bloc with a majority.
The meetings will take place at the presidential residence in Jerusalem after Central Elections Committee chair Justice Noam Sohlberg formally presents the results. The consultations are expected to be broadcast live.
The October 27 election gave Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, compared with 48 for Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc. Arab parties won the remaining 19 seats. A governing coalition generally requires the support of at least 61 lawmakers.
During the consultations, each party will be able to recommend a candidate to form the next government. Herzog will then assign the task to the lawmaker he believes has the best chance of assembling a coalition. The mandate does not automatically go to the leader of the largest party.
The selected candidate will have 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. If that attempt fails, Herzog may assign the task to another lawmaker. Failure to secure a government could ultimately trigger another election.
Herzog has urged political leaders to enter the discussions with “an open mind,” emphasizing the need to avoid a fresh vote.
Netanyahu will remain prime minister, leading a caretaker government, until a new government takes office.