Committee sets February 25 as earliest date for possible 3rd election
The Central Elections Committee has identified February 25, 2020 as the earliest possible date that fresh elections, an unprecedented third vote in less than a year, can be held if the current political deadlock remains unbroken.
Two rounds of elections, in April and September, failed to produce an elected government — a first in Israeli political history. The Knesset now has a December 11 deadline for at least 61 lawmakers to agree on an MK to form a government, or parliament will be dissolved and third elections set.
Following a request for clarification from MK Avi Nissenkorn from Blue and White, who wanted to find out if it would be possible to bring the vote forward, committee head Orly Adas issued a statement on Monday identifying the date.
“In the meeting we presented the complicated work process the committee has to comply with under election law and the difficulties inherent in them,” she said. “It appears that the earliest date that it would be possible to hold a vote in accordance with the law would be February 25, 2020.”
Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Blue and White chair Benny Gantz has so far been able to form a government, even though both have publicly said they want to avoid a third vote.
