Netanyahu informs Parliament that he has the votes to form a government

Dec. 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Israeli conservative leader Benjamin Netanyahu has formally informed the president of the Knesset or Israeli Parliament, Yariv Levin, on Monday, that he has the necessary support to form a government after closing a coalition agreement between his formation, the Likud, three far-right parties and two ultra-Orthodox parties.

Now the time for the investiture officially begins, which has been convened for Thursday morning. However, the vote could be postponed until next Monday, January 2, at the latest, reports ‘The Times of Israel’.

Netanyahu must now overcome some more procedures such as the formalization of his coalition agreement with the majority of his partners, close the distribution of ministerial portfolios within the Likud and conclude the drafting of two laws that his government partners require as preconditions to lend their support for the new executive.

The leaders of the parties that will be opposition have met this Monday in the Knesset and have published a joint communiqué in which they promise to collaborate before a government that they consider too religious and extremist.

“We are going to collaborate to combat this retrograde and undemocratic government that is being created and that wants to dismantle Israel from within,” says the text signed by Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), Benny Gantz (National Unity), Merav Michaeli (Labor Party) , Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) and Mansur Abbas (Raam).

“We promise that when we return to power we will repeal extremist legislation that harms democracy, security and the economy of Israeli society,” they added.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu has accused Lapid of not understanding the result of the November 1st elections and has asked him for “responsibility”. “Lapid. Losing an election does not mean the end of democracy. You refuse to accept the people’s decision,” he pointed out in a video posted on social networks.