Likud primaries to continue as usual, despite talks of cancellation due to security concerns

The Likud Court has rejected a proposed clause that would have permitted the party to cancel its primaries in the event of a security emergency. The court ruled on Saturday night that postponing the primaries should be the preferred option during such circumstances and mandated that the party prepare for the possibility of electronic voting.

The court's decision came in response to petitions challenging the party's election regulations ahead of the Likud convention. "There is no place to open in advance even the smallest door to canceling the primaries," the ruling stated. "This is not the way of the Likud movement. Likud is not a one-man party, and it will lose its vitality if it becomes one."

The court affirmed that selecting Likud candidates through primaries remains the proper procedure. Existing regulations already allow the election committee to change the voting date under special circumstances, and an emergency could justify such a change. Therefore, postponing the elections was deemed the first and most appropriate course of action.

Recognizing that an emergency is a foreseeable possibility, the court expects the Likud director general to account for this when making agreements with service providers and venue owners. The party must also prepare for electronic voting should an emergency prevent in-person voting. The court stressed that all possible means of holding the primaries must be exhausted, and any unforeseen situations would be ruled upon if they arise. The decision also addressed reserved spots on the party list, rejecting a petition that challenged the Likud chairman's authority to move a candidate elected in the primaries.

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There is no place to open in advance even the smallest door to canceling the primaries. This is not the way of the Likud movement. Likud is not a one-man party, and it will lose its vitality if it becomes one.