Naama Lazimi Wins No. 2 Spot After Yair Golan in Left-Wing Democrats’ Primary

MK Naama Lazimi has secured the number-two position on the left-wing Democrats' electoral slate following the party's primary election. She will follow party leader Yair Golan, who was elected leader in 2024 when the party was formed through the alliance of the Labor and Meretz parties.

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Full of gratitude and thrilled. My eternal thanks for the trust and partnership.

The primary, described as the first fully online election in Israeli politics using a secure digital voting system, saw 97,000 of the party's 112,376 registered members cast ballots, resulting in an 86 percent turnout. Twenty candidates were elected from a field of 51 contenders.

Lazimi has become a prominent figure in Israeli left-wing politics, known for her participation in anti-government protests and her advocacy for coexistence. She has faced criticism and threats of violence due to her activism. Following the results, Lazimi expressed gratitude on social media for the trust placed in her.

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This is democracy at its best, alive, vibrant, and ready for battle. And the team standing behind me here tonight will be the choice on the ballot of more than a million voters.

Party leader Yair Golan vowed that a key priority for any government the Democrats join would be establishing a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. He also pledged to repeal laws associated with the judicial overhaul. Golan emphasized the importance of strong Democratic representation in the next government to prevent the "bloc for change" from shifting too far to the right.

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Without strong and influential Democrats in the next government, the entire bloc for change will very quickly slide to the right.