How close are we to the possibility of going to the polls, for the fourth time in the last two years?
• Questions and Answers
Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin postponed the debate on the early elections that were supposed to take place today. Is it within his authority?
Absolutely. ".
The next votes on the way? The vote in a preliminary reading on the dissolution of the Knesset // Photo: Knesset Channel
What is expected in the debate in the Knesset plenum when the bill is submitted for approval on first reading?
In the first reading debate, all MKs will be able to take part. Everyone will be allowed to speak for 10-5 minutes from the podium. For the new MKs, this may be the last speech, if they are not re-elected to the next Knesset.
At the end of the lengthy debate, a vote is expected to approve the law on first reading.
If there is support for 61 MKs in approving the bill, it will be returned to the Knesset committee for preparation for the second and third readings, but if there is no majority of 61 MKs, the law will be completely dropped from the agenda.
In parallel with the discussions in the plenum and in the committee, are behind-the-scenes consultations also expected?
for sure.
As the voting date approaches, attempts by Likud political figures, who oppose early elections in March, are expected to persuade members of other factions not to support the bill.
If all the persuasion efforts of those who oppose the early elections fail, when will the bill be submitted to the Knesset plenum for final approval?
The law does not stipulate within how long the bill must be submitted to the Knesset plenum for approval.
The bill must first be approved by the Knesset Committee for a second and third reading.
In this debate, representatives of the Likud and its coalition partners will be allowed to submit dozens and even hundreds of reservations to the law, which will give them long hours to speak in the plenum.
If the law is finally approved on second and third reading, when will the election take place?
The law stipulates that the elections will be held on Tuesday after 90 days from the date of final approval of the law to dissolve the Knesset.
Usually, however, coalition and opposition representatives agree on the date of the election.
If the dissolution of the Knesset Law does not win a majority of 61 MKs, whether the government can continue to govern?
Only briefly, unless agreement is reached between the blue and white Likud to 23 December for the approval of the budget for 2020. If by then the budget will not be approved automatically The Knesset will be dissolved and the elections will be held on March 23, 2021.
Assuming no agreement is reached and elections are announced in March, who will run the country in the meantime?
The current government will continue to serve as a transitional government until a new government is formed after the election.
This process may take at least four to five months.
Was there a precedent for a bill to dissolve the Knesset to be approved in a preliminary reading, but fell before it was brought for final approval in the second and third readings?
for sure.
There were several cases, the most notable of which was in May 2012. A few hours after the bill to dissolve the Knesset was approved on first reading by a huge majority in the Knesset and the 19th Knesset elections were held on September 4, 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised everyone when he reached an agreement with then-opposition leader Shaul Mofaz on a coalition agreement to form a unity government.