Last update - 00:00 27/08/2007
PM, Lieberman to promote bill to change system of government
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman have agreed to promote the bill to change the system of government during the Knesset's winter session with the intention of pushing it through the final round legislation.
Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel met with Lieberman on Monday to discuss the issue ahead of the discussion on the topic scheduled for Wednesday.
In the meeting, it was decided that the wording of the legislation would be based on four principles - the stability of the government, the government's ability to administrate, the functional efficiency of the Knesset, and the responsibilities of MKs to their voters. It was also decided that an effort would be made to secure broad support for the 'Norwegian Law,' which stipulates that ministers must have temporary Knesset members fill their parliamentary positions while they are in the cabinet, regarding the vote threshold and no-confidence votes.
A message issued by the Prime Minister's Office said that Yehezkel would act to garner the coalition parties' support for the bill.
Olmert said Monday that "I am confident in the ability of the coalition to have the bill to change the system of government approved by the end of the Knesset's winter session and secure Israel's governmental stability."