As Israel gears up for future national elections, the ruling Likud party is set to conduct primary elections to determine its Knesset candidate list by July 28. This decision received a unanimous nod from the party’s constitution committee, led by Tourism Minister Haim Katz. Although the exact date for the primaries has not been finalized, the elections will rank candidates below the party leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, whose top position is secure.
Likud, currently holding 32 seats in the Knesset, employs a primary system to select most of its parliamentary candidates. The impending elections are expected to be closely scrutinized, with party members vying for key positions on the electoral list. Reports suggest that Netanyahu is aiming to secure top spots on the slate for certain preferred candidates, a move that has sparked some opposition among sitting lawmakers worried about their future standing and electoral chances.
Informal voting among party activists has shown significant support for figures like Amir Ohana and Eli Cohen. However, party officials caution that activist preferences do not always align with the final primary outcomes. The leadership is also considering the challenge of balancing candidates who resonate with the party’s core supporters against those who might appeal to moderate right-wing and undecided voters, whose backing could be crucial in a tightly contested national election.
Current polling indicates that while Likud remains a formidable political force in Israel, it faces mounting competition from opposition groups led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Surveys suggest that neither the ruling bloc nor the opposition commands a clear parliamentary majority, which could lead to intricate coalition negotiations following the next election. The results of the Likud primaries are anticipated to significantly influence the party’s electoral strategy and leadership framework as it prepares for the upcoming national vote.