STRONG, BUT WRONG, MEDICINE

Regarding the first aim, direct elections will not prevent coalition bargaining with the small parties. The prime minister will continue to need them, both to ensure his personal election and to form a coalition after the Knesset elections. He cannot be elected or govern without them. And, according...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Jerusalem post
Main Author Galnoor, Itzhak
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Jerusalem The Jerusalem Post Ltd 24.11.1991
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Summary:Regarding the first aim, direct elections will not prevent coalition bargaining with the small parties. The prime minister will continue to need them, both to ensure his personal election and to form a coalition after the Knesset elections. He cannot be elected or govern without them. And, according to the proposed law, without a stable majority in the Knesset, he can expect a non-confidence vote resulting in his dismissal and new elections. This method ensures that the prime minister cannot be toppled unless a true majority in the Knesset supports another candidate. The government is then less susceptible to blackmail by the small parties or individual Members of Knesset. They would not be able merely to threaten to quit, but would either have to concretize the threat by supporting an alternative prime minister or not make it at all. Another, highly likely possibility, is that an "opposition Knesset" would ensue: the prime minister would represent one party and the Knesset majority would be led by his opponents. Thus, the prime minister would head a sort of minority government. Again, would our political culture allow cohabitation, to use the French expression, of two authorities?