Changes in the Likud Party: Netanyahu to select some of the party's Knesset representatives
The Likud party has announced a significant change to its method of selecting candidates for the next Knesset. According to the new decision, the party chairman, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been granted the authority to personally select one-third of the representatives who will appear on the party's list for the elections.
Until now, most candidates on the Likud list were chosen through a primary system, in which party members vote for their preferred candidates. The new change grants Netanyahu greater power in determining the composition of the list, a move that is sparking broad public and political debate both within and outside the party.
The decision was reached after party members approved the move, which gives the party chairman the ability to place his own candidates in reserved spots. Supporters of the move argue that it will allow Netanyahu to bring new and professional figures into the party, while opponents fear it will weaken internal democracy within Likud.
This change signals a new trend in how parties in Israel assemble their lists. While primaries have been associated with Likud for years, the current move alters political tradition and shifts the center of gravity for decision-making into the hands of the party leader.