Israel is Going to the Polls Part 2

October 27 is predicted to be a pivotal election in the history of Israel and the world is watching.

Because no single political party has ever won an outright 61-seat majority on its own in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset, forming a government always requires building a multi-party coalition.

Here is how the four step process works.

1. Consultations & Mandate Assignment

Once election results are finalised, the President of Israel holds consultations with representatives from every elected party.

• Each party recommends their preferred candidate for Prime Minister.

• The President then assigns the mandate—the formal task of forming a government—to the Knesset member deemed most likely to command a 61-seat majority. This is usually the leader of the largest party, but it can be the head of a smaller party if they have broader cross-party backing.

2. The Negotiation Period

The designated Prime Minister has 28 days to strike deals with partner parties, with the possibility of a 14-day extension. During this phase, party leaders draft coalition agreements that outline:

• Cabinet Portfolios: Which party gets key ministries (e.g., Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs).

• Policy Guidelines: Compromises on major issues such as security, budget allocations, judicial reforms, or religious exemptions.

3. Alternative Attempts & Fallbacks

If the initial candidate fails to form a coalition within their allotted time, the President can assign the mandate to another lawmaker for 28 days. If that candidate fails as well, any 61 members of the Knesset can petition to give a third candidate 14 days. If no one can piece together a majority, parliament dissolves, triggering automatic new elections.

4. The Investiture Vote

Once a coalition agreement representing at least 61 seats is signed, the proposed government goes before the full Knesset for a formal vote of confidence. If it passes, the new Prime Minister and cabinet are sworn in.

Who are the front-runners? Watch this space tomorrow.