- Israel’s prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu has requested an extension of his mandate to form a government.
- Netanyahu asked Israeli President Izchak Herzog in a motion for another two weeks, according to a spokesman for the Likud party.
- Otherwise, the mandate would expire on Sunday – around five weeks after the parliamentary elections.
The reason given was open questions in the coalition negotiations. In addition to Netanyahu’s right-wing conservative Likud party, the right-wing extremist Religious-Zionist Alliance and two strictly religious parties are to be involved in the government.
If Netanyahu succeeds in the alliance, Israel’s government will slide significantly to the right. Critics therefore fear a weakening of democracy. A corruption trial is also currently underway against Netanyahu.
Netanyahu wants drastic change
The camp won 64 out of 120 seats in the Knesset in the November election. In principle, Netanyahu has already reached an agreement with his partners. However, a joint coalition agreement is still pending. Netanyahu failed to form a government last year.
However, it is not uncommon in Israel to extend the time originally scheduled for four weeks. The looming new government is expected to push through sweeping changes that could also play into Netanyahu’s hands in his ongoing corruption trial.
Playing for ministerial posts
Before the government is sworn in, a change in the law is to be passed that will enable Arie Deri, the leader of the strictly religious Shas party, to become interior minister despite being convicted of tax offenses.
Israeli media reported that this was one of the reasons for the request for an extension of the mandate. Other ministerial posts are also to be filled with controversial politicians. It would be Netanyahu’s second comeback to the post of prime minister.