Rivlin could task only 1 candidate with forming coalition, not 2 — report

President Reuven Rivlin is seeking to shorten the process of picking the next prime minister candidate, and is considering only tasking one politician with trying to cobble together a coalition, not two, before passing the mandate to the Knesset, Channel 13 news reports.

Normally, two party heads can get a shot at forming a government, but the current deadlock could render that unnecessary. After that, the Knesset is given three weeks for any 61 MKs to recommend a lawmaker as premier, or additional elections are automatically called.

Rivlin, when he meets party representatives, also plans to ask them if they have a second priority, and whether they are open to negotiating with others, seeking to get a fuller picture regarding who is best positioned to form a coalition, the report says.

The network also reports tensions between Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Yamina chief Naftali Bennett.

Bennett is demanding that he become prime minister for part of the term if he forms a coalition with the anti-Netanyahu bloc, but Yesh Atid is said to be ruling that out since Yamina won just seven Knesset seats.

Both leaders aren’t having any contact due to the disagreement, the report says.