Yesh Atid MK contracts COVID, says ‘unreasonable’ to prevent him voting

14 July 2021, 4:13 pm

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Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak (Screen capture: YouTube)

MK Vladimir Beliak from Yesh Atid tests positive for coronavirus, in a potential fresh blow to the coalition as it struggles to pass legislation with a razor-thin Knesset majority.

After Beliak was confirmed to have COVID-19, Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash sought to prevent him from taking part in plenum votes at the Knesset.

“It’s unreasonable to prevent a Knesset member from voting in the plenum, even if he is confirmed to have the coronavirus,” Beliak tweets in response. “I will never violate the guidelines, but I expect the Health Ministry to offer a reasonable solution that will allow me to exercise my democratic right.”

Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy, who is also in Yesh Atid, is holding consultations on whether to permit Beliak to vote, with members of the coalition pushing him to buck Ash’s pressure, according to Channel 13 news.