Likud’s Party Court Rules Sitting Ministers Cannot Run in Primary Elections

Likud’s internal party court has upheld appeals against a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Chaim Katz, determining that sitting Members of Knesset and government ministers will be barred from competing in regional primary elections. The ruling represents a significant intervention in the party’s internal electoral process, establishing strict eligibility rules for candidates seeking to represent Likud in specific constituencies. The decision effectively prevents currently serving politicians from using their official positions to gain advantages in the party’s selection mechanisms for individual districts. This move marks an attempt to level the playing field within Likud’s democratic primaries, which serve as the mechanism through which the party selects its candidates for the general election. The internal party court’s authority to enforce such restrictions highlights the substantial influence wielded by Likud’s judicial bodies in shaping the party’s internal power dynamics and electoral procedures. The ruling addresses concerns about potential advantages that sitting ministers might enjoy when competing against other party members in their respective regions. Party insiders say the decision reflects broader tensions within Likud over how to ensure fair representation among candidates competing for nomination, particularly in contests that could significantly influence the party’s overall composition in the Knesset.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.