Last update - 00:00 09/11/2006
PM: Understandings reached on changing system of government
By Haaretz Service
Kadima, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the Pensioners' Party have reached understandings in principle on changing the system of government, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday during a Kadima party meeting in Petah Tikva.
The understandings are as follows: The head of the party that receives the most votes will be serve as prime minister, without requiring Knesset approval; the prime minister will also be able to appoint ministers, who cannot concurrently serve as MKs, without the legislative body's approval; no-confidence motions will require a majority of 66 MKs to pass; the government can have a maximum of 18 ministers; the Knesset can be dissolved by the prime minister or by a majority of 73 MKs.
Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz said in response that "the agreements the prime minister spoke of are liable to harm the Knesset's standing and its ability to check the power of the government."
Industry, Trade, and Labor Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) said the any initiatives formulated without the agreement of the majority of Knesset factions will be strongly opposed by Shas.
"There is a forum of faction whips on changing the system of government," Yishai said. "Any other forum does not have the right to advance initiatives on the matter."
MK Shelly Yacimovich (Labor) called the understandings frightening, and said they grant the prime minister exaggerated power.
Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar said "Kadima's proposal presents a tangible danger to the parliamentary democracy."
Strategic Threats Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) said the ongoing government instability is a strategic threat to the State of Israel, and that the next elections will be conducted in a different manner.