[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]
Many analysts and political veterans believe the current coalition is living its last days. As tensions mount between Yesh Atid and Bayit Yehudi it is clear that the coalition is likely to fall in the not-so-distant future as one of those parties announces a break.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and her The Movement party is already probing tomorrow’s political realties as initial contact has been made to discuss the possibility of forming a centrist/left-wing bloc in the next election. Livni is aware that the polls do not paint an optimistic picture for her six person party and signing a deal with the leading opposition party may provide her a brighter future than going it on her own.
It is reported that Minister of Environment Affairs (The Movement) Amir Peretz is spearheading the talks that may lead to The Movement aligning with Labor.
Interestingly, Peretz left his native Labor party to move to the new party headed by Livni. The former Histadrut national labor federation leader was the head of the Labor party but he was unseated by Shelly Yacimovich. He then moved from Labor to become number two on Livni’s list rather than remain number two in Labor.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
In a parliamentary system, especially one with a coalition government (which is inevitable if one uses proportional representation), all parties are constantly ready for new elections all the time.
For a center-leftist block to work, it would have to include the non-zionist Arab parties and/or the hareidim. So unless the center-left are willing to accomodate hareidim (meaning end conscription), it won’t happen absent a radical shift of votes from the nationalist to the socialist parties.
Dump Aharonovich and Yisrael Beiteinu from the Likud in anticipation of new elections.