Let voters have a say in who they vote in to Knesset - opinion

The Likud party is embroiled in a significant internal struggle over how its candidate list for the upcoming elections will be determined. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly considered canceling the democratic primaries in favor of a "selection committee," a move widely seen as a way for him to exert decisive control.

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It is possible that this was no more than mutual arm-twisting intended to lead to the expected compromise, under which most of the list will be determined through primaries, while Netanyahu is allocated a large number of personal reserved slots.

This initiative has met firm opposition from within the party. Incumbent politicians, numbering over 40 Knesset members and ministers, along with returning candidates and former politicians, face a highly competitive environment for a reduced number of viable spots on the list. Each reserved slot granted to Netanyahu would further diminish opportunities for these incumbents, fueling intense unrest.

The conflict also exposes a fundamental tension in Israeli politics regarding candidate selection. One model favors the party leader personally determining the list, which can lead to excessive loyalty and a lack of independent thought among Knesset members. The alternative, inclusive primaries, while democratic in potential, can reward populist behavior and prioritize the interests of a specific party base over diligent parliamentary work. Furthermore, primaries can be susceptible to organized bloc voting by groups with narrow interests.

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The leader-based method is far from transparent and may produce submissive Knesset members who display excessive loyalty to the leader, at times at the expense of their conscience and personal views.

Both systems, and any compromise between them, present significant challenges. The leader-based method lacks transparency, while primaries can distort parliamentary focus. The ongoing debate within the Likud reflects these deep-seated issues, raising questions about the future of democratic processes within Israeli political parties.

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Primaries, by contrast, despite their democratic potential, tend to produce Knesset members whose political fate is subordinated to a “base” of party members that rewards populist conduct at the expense of diligent parliamentary work.