JERUSALEM, Mar 16 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, will task Benny Gantz with forming the next government, after most lawmakers endorsed the centrist leader, according to a statement.
“Tomorrow (today) at noon, the President of Israel will task Chairman of the Blue and White party, Benny Gantz, with forming a government,” said the statement.
The statement came just after Rivlin had a series of consultations with all parties elected in the Mar 2 elections, over who should try and form the next government, Gantz or incumbent Prime Minister, Netanyahu.
Gantz was endorsed by 61 lawmakers while Netanyahu by 58.
Gantz, Israel’s former military chief, was supported by the faction of Labour-Gesher-Meretz, a coalition of three left-wing parties, the Arab-Jewish Joint List party, and Israel Our Home, an ultra-nationalist party, headed by Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu’s former defence minister.
Should Gantz succeed in forming a government, he will replace Netanyahu, the longest-serving leader in the history of Israel, who is facing trial for corruption charges.
The consultations are an official procedure in Israel after elections, in which the 120 newly-elected members of parliament give their recommendations on which leader should form the government.
At no time in Israeli history did any party win an outright majority to form a government, as a coalition needs at least 61 seats out of the 120-member parliament.
The election results on Mar 2 led to another de facto political deadlock like two previous inconclusive rounds of votes in 2019.– NNN-MA’AN
