Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has reportedly taken actions towards eliminating the position of president or at the very least, to significantly diminish the presidential powers. The prime minister’s actions are being met with sharp opposition among party colleagues. Nevertheless, the prime minister is reportedly working to postpone the next presidential election, which is set to take place in the summer. President Shimon Peres’ term ends in July 2014.

Among the options reportedly being weighed by the prime minister is a bill that will compel a change in the law governing the assembling of a coalition government. At present, the president invites party heads for a meeting following elections and then appoints one of them to attempt to assemble a coalition government. While the president will generally tap the head of the party that received the most votes, he is not compelled to do so and may select and party leader he wishes.

The prime minister wants to pass a law that the person heading the party that receives the most votes is automatically selected to assemble the coalition. It would appear that Netanyahu realizes eliminating the post of president is not a popular move and he is therefore working on a bill that will limit the scope of the presidential powers.

MK (Likud) Reuven Rivlin, a candidate in the presidential race, supports the move to amend the law to permit the candidate with the most votes to automatically assemble the coalition, without presidential intervention.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin told Kol Berama Radio that he has not personally heard of the prime minister taking such actions. When asked which candidate he plans to support in the presidential race, he stated he will work towards the election of Silvan Shalom.

For the time being, chareidi lawmakers are not publically expressing an opinion on the matter.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)