President Reuven Rivlin is making preparations for elections for 20th Knesset. Following elections, the heads of all the parties meet with the president and recommend who they believe should receive the presidential mandate to attempt to form a coalition government.

Rivlin announces that he plans to give the mandate to the party with the best chance of forming a coalition. If the leaders of the party are equal, then the party with the most seats will be given the mandate and have the first opportunity to form the government.

Officials in the President’s Residence add that it is entirely possible that Mr. Rivlin will conduct a second round of talks with party leaders prior to announcing his decision. During the first round of talks he will hear the view of party leaders and their preferred candidate for the mandate. If however he does not receive a totally clear picture following these talks, he will meet for a second round and during those talks he will seek to determine what coalition makeup the party leaders would agree to enter.

Aides to the president point out he is an attorney and has years of political experience in addition to having served as Knesset Speaker”. Mr. Rivlin is also expected to consult with legal experts prior to consulting with party leaders following elections.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)