Israeli president begins party consultations for new government
(dpa)
Tel Aviv (dpa) - Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday began consultations with the parties elected in last week's vote about the formation of the next government, with incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu widely expected to to be assigned the task.
After hearing the parties' recommendations for the next prime minister, the president will announce which parliament member will be entrusted with forming a government.
Rivlin is expected to assign the task to Netanyahu, whose Likud party received 36 of the 120 seats in parliament, and who may rely on the support of the right-wing bloc, which has a 10-seat advantage over the centre-left bloc.
The Blue and White party, led by Netanyahu's centrist rival Benny Gantz, received 35 seats.
Rivlin was meeting Monday with the Likud and Blue and White factions, as well as the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, and the Arab party Hadash-Ta'al.
On Tuesday he will meet with the remaining six factions.
After Rivlin has tapped the selected parliamentary member, that person will then have 28 days to form the coalition, and may be granted an extension of up to an additional 14 d
Rivlin is expected to assign the task to Netanyahu, whose Likud party received 36 of the 120 seats in parliament, and who may rely on the support of the right-wing bloc, which has a 10-seat advantage over the centre-left bloc.
The Blue and White party, led by Netanyahu's centrist rival Benny Gantz, received 35 seats.
Rivlin was meeting Monday with the Likud and Blue and White factions, as well as the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties Shas and United Torah Judaism, and the Arab party Hadash-Ta'al.
On Tuesday he will meet with the remaining six factions.
After Rivlin has tapped the selected parliamentary member, that person will then have 28 days to form the coalition, and may be granted an extension of up to an additional 14 d