Meeting parties, Rivlin says he ‘can’t currently see a way to form a coalition’
President hints at ‘value-based considerations’ in choice, says he may not give 2nd person a chance; reprimands Likud’s Ohana for speaking against PM’s trial: ‘I can’t accept it’
Beginning an intensive day of meetings with political parties for consultations on each one’s preferred candidate for forming the next government, President Reuven Rivlin lamented Monday that “at the moment, I can’t see a way to form a coalition.”
He also said if his first choice to form a government fails, he may send the mandate back to the Knesset to make a choice, rather than giving a second person a chance to do so first.
And in stark comments, the president added that “after four election campaigns, democracy has exhausted itself.”
He also hinted at the possibility that Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, taking place at the same time across town, could play a role in his decision on whom he would hand the mandate to.
“There may be other considerations, including value-based considerations that I do not know if the president has the authority to consider,” Rivlin told Likud representatives, the first in line, after they recommended Netanyahu.
“Is there another candidate you would like to recommend as an alternative candidate [to Netanyahu], if such considerations will prevent your candidate from being chosen?” Rivlin asked. Likud officials responded in the negative, saying they were acting in accordance with the law.
An extraordinary argument then developed between Rivlin and the lead Likud representative, Public Security Minister Amir Ohana, a close ally of Netanyahu, who said he’d escorted Netanyahu to the court before coming, in order to stand on the side of “truth and justice.”
President Reuven Rivlin (L) and Likud minister Amir Ohana at the president’s residence in Jerusalem, April 5, 2021 (video screenshot)
Rivlin interceded: “Truth and justice? You’re saying that in your own name, not for the purposes of this forum.”
“I think I’m not only speaking for myself,” Ohana said. “When over a million voters voted Likud led by Benjamin Netanyahu when they are well aware of the situation you may have hinted at, if I understood the hint correctly, I think they voiced a high level of trust in him and a lack of trust in others.”
Rivlin interjected: “I would like to say you are stating this as your opinion. This is the President’s Residence and I cannot accept it.”
To this Ohana retorted: “Just as sir is not obligated to accept my opinion, I am not obligated to accept his.”
“Of course, of course,” Rivlin replied.
The Yesh Atid party was next in line after Likud, with its representatives recommending party leader Yair Lapid.
“When we have a prime minister who is in court at this moment defending himself, we need a candidate who will work for the sake of the State of Israel, not himself, to take on this important task,” Yesh Atid No. 2 Orna Barbivai said.
She added she did not rule out Lapid potentially putting forward another candidate to be prime minister, but said that he must be given the mandate to form the government based on having the best chances to succeed at the task.
Rivlin, quizzing the party representatives on whether they could support a government headed by someone other than Lapid, said he saw the deadlock as unfixable.
“At the moment, I can’t see a way to form a coalition,” Rivlin said.
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President hints at 'value-based considerations' in choice, says he may not give 2nd person a chance; reprimands Likud's Ohana for speaking against PM's trial: 'I can't accept it'
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