Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is contemplating starting a new political party, a party that would focus on a social economic platform. It has already been reported that Barkat is looking at a move to the national political arena and the Prime Minister’s Residence. The mayor reportedly has the backing of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and he will not make a bid for the Likud top spot if the prime minister has not stepped down.

According to a MyNet report Barkat is entertaining launching his own party, a move that may mimic the actions of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon who broke from Likud and today’s heads his own 10-seat party in Knesset. The report quotes person working with the mayor, who explain that in addition to looking into continuing with Likud the option of a new party is being weighed. The latter might be used in the event the prime minister wishes to run for another term. This new party would focus on a social economic platform and it would be political right-centrist.

Supporters of the mayor believe this is entirely possible since the mayor has already proven himself in Yerushalayim and he has shown he is capable of doing the same on a national level. One of the programs Barkat believes in is differential funding for municipalities, based on giving additional assistance to weaker local governments and less for the stronger municipalities. This plan reportedly enjoys the support of the budgeting experts in the treasury. If the plan is accepted, this will provide a new formula for budgeting local government.

Activists backing the mayor explain this plan and the likelihood of it being accepted has provided Barkat good national exposure that would assist in a campaign for the premiership. They hope that such a party would earn enough votes to become a significant entity in the next Knesset, placing Barkat in a senior cabinet post. This is exactly what Kahlon did. He broke from Likud at the end of the 18th Knesset after leading the legislature that broke the monopoly enjoyed by cell phone companies. He sat out the 19th Knesset and ahead of elections for 20th Knesset Kahlon announced his new Kulanu party, which earned ten seats and he is now serving as finance minister.

Officials in Jerusalem City Hall responded to the article stating the facts are not correct, adding “The mayor is busy with advancing the development of Jerusalem and nothing else”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)