MK Ram Ben-Barak, who announced last night that he would run for the leadership of Yesh Atid in the party's first-ever primary, was interviewed by the media on Tuesday morning and said that "the party needs to be much more democratic, because until today it has not been."
Ben-Barak spoke on Channel 12's morning news about the differences between him and Lapid. He said he "wants full democracy and not just mayoral elections," and in the economic context claimed he was "more economically left than Lapid." On the issue of Israel and the Palestinians, Ben-Barak said: "I think that most of Yesh Atid is where I am with regard to the Palestinians, unlike where Lapid was. There must be separation from the Palestinians."
In an interview on 103FM, he discussed the differences between him and Lapid. "There are a few things between Lapid and me that we don't see eye to eye. The party needs to be much more democratic, until now it was certainly not democratic," Ben-Barak said, "Today we are taking the first step towards democracy. Good chances."
Ben-Barak announced his candidacy in the primaries after 11 years of a single rule by Lapid, who has served as chairman since the party's first day. Following the announcement, Ram Ben-Barak told Israel Hayom: "Of course it's difficult, but there's always a chance. Conference members vote. I know that the party is Lapid's and my friends have been with him for years, but if I thought I was going to crash, I wouldn't have done it. I want to win and I believe I'm going to win."
According to Ben-Barak, Lapid is not surprised by the move: "Lapid knows that it was in my planning, we spoke a few days ago and I told him I would submit. Our relationship is fine."
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us