Nadat ook na een verlenging van twee dagen, de leider van Blue & White, Benny Gantz er niet in is geslaagd een regering samen te stellen, heeft president Rivlin het mandaat aan de Knesset gegeven. Ondertussen gaan Likud en Blue & White door met hun onderhandelingen om een regeringscoalitie samen te stellen. Deze stap van de president mag als uitzonderlijk worden gezien en is nog niet eerder voorgekomen.
In zijn brief aan de voorzitter van de Knesset, Benny Gantz, schreef de president: ‘We zitten dit jaar in een derde opeenvolgende verkiezingscampagne, zonder dat een verkozen ambtenaar een regering heeft kunnen vormen die het vertrouwen van de Knesset zou hebben. Als president is het mijn plicht volgens de basiswet uit (2001) [hierna “de basiswet”] om te handelen op een manier die zo spoedig mogelijk en in overeenstemming met deze wet in Israël een regering zal vormen, en in overeenstemming met deze wet gebruik ik mijn autoriteit bij de verkiezingen voor de 23e Knesset.’
“In het licht van de situatie die deze derde verkiezingen hebben opgeleverd, zoals het mij op dit moment lijkt, volgens welke geen van de kandidaten de steun van een meerderheid van de Knesset-leden heeft op een manier die hen in staat stelt het vertrouwen van de Knesset veilig te stellen en een regering vormen, ook niet in de vorm van een regering van nationale eenheid, en verplicht door de betekenis van de basiswet uit 2001, om zo snel mogelijk de vorming van een regering tot stand te brengen die het vertrouwen van de Knesset zal genieten , deel ik u mede dat ik de mogelijkheid niet zie om een regering te vormen en ik vertrouw de vorming van een regering toe aan de Knesset, die bevoegd is om op te treden overeenkomstig artikel 10, onder a), van deze wet. Ik hoop dat de Knesset-leden in staat zullen zijn om op zo’n manier een meerderheid te vormen dat er zo snel mogelijk een regering kan worden gevormd,
De volledige tekst van de brief :
“Sir,
Firstly, I would like to note that this letter is directed to you as Speaker of the Knesset, according to Article 9(a) of Basic Law: The Government (2001).
- We are in a third consecutive election campaign this year, without any elected official able to form a government that would have the confidence of the Knesset. As president, it is my duty according to Basic Law: The Government (2001) [hereinafter ‘the Basic Law’] to act in a way that a government will be formed in Israel, as soon as possible, and in accordance with this I have used my authority in the elections for the 23rd Knesset.
- On 16 March 2002, in accordance with Article 7 of the Basic Law, after consulting with representatives of the parties represented in the new Knesset, and after 61 Knesset Members requested to grant the task of forming a government to MK Gantz, I entrusted MK Gantz with the task of forming a government.
- According to Article 8 of the Basic Law, a Knesset Member who has been entrusted with the task of forming a government has a period of 28 days to do so.
- On 11 April 2020, MK Gantz submitted a request to me to extend this period by 14 days, according to the authority granted to me in Article 8 of the Basic Law. In his request for an extension, MK Gantz stated that he was doing everything possible to form a government with the Likud party and that he required additional time to conclude an agreement. MK Gantz also noted in his request that he had encountered difficulties in holding the negotiations because of the coronavirus outbreak and because of the holiday period.
- On 12 April 2020, I decided not to accede to MK Gantz’s request for an extension, having also spoken to MK Netanyahu who did not confirm that the sides were close to an agreement that would result in a national unity government. I noted that if, in the time left of the 28-day period, the circumstances changed and a further request for an extension was brought to me in order to help reach an agreement, I would reconsider my decision.
- On 13 April 2020, before midnight, I acceded to the request of MK Gantz, which was presented by agreement of both sides, and on the understanding that they were close to an agreement, I extended the period until midnight of 15 April 2020.
- Last night, the period of time given to MK Gantz expired.
- According to Article 9(a) of the Basic Law, when the period of time given to a Knesset Member expires and he has not informed the president that he has formed a government, the president is authorized to entrust the formation of a government on another Knesset Member or to inform the Speaker of the Knesset that he does not see the possibility of a government being formed.
- In light of the situation that these third elections have produced as it appears to me, according to which neither of the candidates has the support of a majority of Knesset Members in a way that allows them to secure the confidence of the Knesset and form a government, including in the form of a national unity government, and obligated by the meaning of Basic Law: The Government (2001), to bring about as soon as possible the formation of a government that will enjoy the confidence of the Knesset, I am informing you that I do not see the possibility of forming a government and I entrust the formation of a government to the Knesset, which is entitled to act under Article 10(a) of this law.
- Article 10(a) of the Basic Law states that a majority of the members of Knesset may request, in writing, that the President of the State assign the task to a particular member of the Knesset, who so agreed in writing, all within 21 days of the president’s announcement.
- I hope that the Knesset Members will be able to form a majority in such a way that a government can be formed as soon as possible, and to prevent a fourth round of elections.”
