Knesset speaker says vote to replace him will be held next Monday

Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy says he’ll convene the plenum next Monday to choose his replacement, after presumed incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc gathered enough signatures to force a vote.

In a statement, Levy says the request to select a new speaker is meant “to advance legislation that will allow people convicted [of crimes] and sentenced to conditional prison time to serve as ministers,” in reference to ultra-Orthodox Shas leader Aryeh Deri.

“Despite the incredible pain in knowing that that this is the intention of the emerging coalition, I will act with statesmanship and respect the will of the voter,” Levy adds.