Israel to Hold Another General Election in March Next Year Due to Coalition Collapse... "4th Time in 2 Years"

Budget Bill Processing Failure Leads to Collapse of Coalition Government

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Israel is set to hold its fourth general election in two years. This is because the coalition government collapsed after failing to reach an agreement on the budget.

According to CNN and other sources on the 22nd (local time), Israel failed to pass the budget, causing the coalition government, which had been precariously maintained for seven months, to collapse, and a new general election will be held on March 23 next year. The Israeli parliament initially voted on a proposal to extend the budget deadline, but it was rejected with 47 votes in favor and 49 against.

On the 22nd (local time), Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, is expressing his position regarding the coalition collapse.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Israel held general elections in April and September last year, as well as in March this year. After the elections, attempts were made to form a government, but no faction secured a majority of seats. Following the March election this year, the right-wing Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the centrist Blue and White party represented by Defense Minister Benny Gantz formed a coalition government in May, citing circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, with the coalition collapsing after seven months, a new general election must be held.

Both sides have started blaming each other. Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "The Blue and White party broke the agreement to form a coalition, forcing us to hold an unnecessary election again amid the COVID-19 crisis. We did not want this election and opposed it, but we are not afraid of the election because we will win."

Minister Gantz criticized, "Prime Minister Netanyahu, obsessed with trials rather than public interest, has led the entire country into an uncertain era instead of economic stability and recovery."

Although a new election has been decided, both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Gantz are in weak positions. Netanyahu is currently on trial for bribery, and internal divisions have occurred within the Likud party, such as Gideon Sa'ar, a former Minister of Education, leaving the party earlier this month.

Minister Gantz has also faced internal opposition regarding the decision to participate in the coalition government.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.