Barkat proposes primary for Likud deputy to replace Netanyahu if he’s forced out
Amid growing tension within the ruling party over calls to hold an immediate internal leadership election, Likud MK Nir Barkat presented on Sunday a plan to instead hold primaries for a new position of deputy head of the party who would replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he is forced to take a leave of absence to deal with the indictments against him.
With Likud in tumult after MK Gideon Sa’ar publicly challenged Netanyahu on Saturday, calling for him to open up the party to new leadership following the announcement of the long-awaited graft charges, Barkat says his plan will “thwart attempts to divide the party, and will strengthen Likud.”
The proposal would see the creation of a deputy leader position that Barkat said would be “inspired by the US model, [with] the president and vice president working together.”
The deputy leader “will be elected in the primaries by Likud members, identical to the election of the leader, will be placed second in the Likud electoral list for the Knesset, and will hold the most senior post in the government or the Knesset after the chairman of the party,” the proposal says. Crucially, he would automatically take the helm of the movement if the incumbent chairman stepped down.
