RIVLIN GIVES NETANYAHU MANDATE TO FORM GOVERNMENT
Source: Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has another chance to form a government after failing to do so following the April election.
President Reuven Rivlin formally gave Netanyahu four weeks to form the government after a meeting at the President's Residence with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz failed to bring about a breakthrough."Netanyahu has more of a chance to form a government," Rivlin said in a speech alongside Netanyahu.
Rivlin said he gave the mandate to Netanyahu, because he received 55 recommendations from MKs, compared to Gantz's 54. He called upon parties to stop disqualifying each other. He lamented that a unity government was not formed.
In his speech, Rivlin revealed that he offered the possibility of passing a law enabling a prime minister to suspend himself while under indictment and have a vice prime minister take over until the prime minister is cleared. He also noted that by law, after the candidate with a mandate fails to form a government, instead of giving the mandate to another candidate, the Knesset can choose a candidate with the support of 61 MKs.
Read more: https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Rivlin-meeting-with-Netanyahu-Gantz-602868
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