Sa’ar opposes direct elections for PM

New Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar opposes a proposal to reintroduce direct elections for prime minister — a proposal made in a bid to break the political logjam, block Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid’s path to the premiership, and prevent a fifth consecutive Knesset election.

The proposal was submitted to the Knesset by Shas lawmakers today.

The proposal was raised by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and brought to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend by Yamina head Naftali Bennett, Channel 12 reported Sunday, adding that the Likud leader was convinced to back the idea.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and New Hope leader Gideon Sa’ar (R). (Flash90)

The proposal would see a special election held for Israelis to pick the next prime minister. There would not be another election for the Knesset, after the vote held last month. A similar proposal was floated amid political deadlock after the September 2019 elections, and went nowhere.

Sa’ar says the move would be akin to “changing the rules during the game.”