Israeli Election
A low turn out [about 63.2%] and new major party have led to confused results for the Israeli election. With 75% of the vote counted Ariel Sharon’s Kadima party appears to have won 28 of 120 seats in the Knesset which gives them the opportunity to attempt to form a governing majority with the other Israeli parties.
There is no natural fit with the other parties, and no clear direction from the voters.
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for creative policies, and expect the voters will be given another chance to express their wishes in the near future.
4 comments
Yeah, a quarter of the Knesset is not what I’d call a secure foundation on which to build a lasting government. They’ll caucus with either the extreme left or, more likely, the extreme right–and those caucus partners will bolt the instant they get stiffed on something they care enough about to bother with a vote of no-confidence. (And dang, I wish we had a parliamentary mechanism like that in our system–besides the latest Pew poll, that is.)
There definitely are benefits to a parliamentary system and a weak head of state.
I don’t see 61 seats total if all of the left-wing parties came together, but they might cut a deal for the pensioners’ party to join in a coalition. In any case, I don’t see a working majority in the mix.
This is why I support the two part system, even with all of it’s faults. Multiple parties is far too contrasted. Keep is simple.
It all depends on how closely the people elected fit with the principles of the party they are supposed to represent. I’d prefer to return to the original system without parties when you really were voting for an individual.