President of Israel instructs opposition candidate Yair Lapid to form government

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin charged the opposition leader on Wednesday evening, Yair Lapid, form a government, after the outgoing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, failed in this attempt.

“I spoke with Yair Lapid and told him that I gave him the mandate to form a government “Rivlin said during an official speech from the seat of the presidency in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu’s delay after the March 23 election expired at midnight without being able to secure a majority of 61 MPs out of 120 MPs in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) in preparation for a governing coalition.

Following the setback, which does not yet herald the departure of the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history, Rivlin had three days to decide on the next step to emerge from two years of political crisis.

Reuven Rivlin received Lapid on Wednesday morning, as well as the leader of the far-right Yamina formation, Naftali Bennett. Both asked him for the mandate to form the next government.

In parallel, the Israeli head of state has asked the parties to present him with possible candidates for a post.

“It is clear from the recommendations received that Lapid had a better chance of forming a governmentSaid the Israeli president.

Lapid, of the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party, the second force with 17 seats, will now have 28 days to try to gain the support of 61 deputies, out of the 120 in parliament, needed to form an executive that will lift Israel. emerges from its long political blockade and avoids a fifth election in just two and a half years. If successful, he would have a national unity government ousting Netanyahu from power, on trial for corruption and embezzlement.

Naftali Benet, of ultra-nationalist Yamina, a key player who has not allied with Netanyahu or his opponents, recommended himself. He only has seven seats, but in recent weeks he has negotiated with the PM and Lapid to head a possible rotating executive.

Islamist Raam, another party that with its four seats could tip the scales, has decided not to recommend anyone.

However, Lapid – until now leader of the opposition – will have the arduous task of trying to forge a coalition between a large amalgam of parties of very diverse ideologies going from left to far right, but they are united in their opposition to Netanyahu.

For this reason, beyond Yesh Atid (17 seats), he today obtained the support of the centrist Blue and White (8), of the extreme right Israel Nuestro Hogar (7), of the center-left Labor Party. (7), the pacifist Meretz (6), the right-wing Nueva Esperanza (6) and five of the six deputies of the United Arab List.

However, it has not yet reached a majority of 61 deputies, so it will have to seduce other possible partners with equally distant ideologies, where Yamina or the Islamist Raam could appear.

Among other obstacles, building a coalition would require the support of at least one Arab party alongside one or two far-right Zionist formations, which is unprecedented in Israel.

(With information from AFP and EFE)