Yariv Levin announces vote for new gov’t to take place Sunday

Knesset speaker Yariv Levin announced Tuesday that the new government would be brought to a vote of confidence and be sworn in during a special session of the parliament on Sunday.At the same special session on Sunday a vote will be held to replace Levin as Knesset Speaker with Yesh Atid MK Mickey Levy. 

On Monday, Levin formally said that a government has been formed and that the day for the vote and the swearing in would be set “later.”

Likud sources said then that he would announce it with enough time in advance in order to be “fair,” even though legally he does not have to announce it at any particular time in advance.  

The sources said on Monday that Levin would most likely announce on Tuesday when the vote would be held. They denied a report that Levin had decided to hold the vote next Monday, the last possible date permitted.

Coalition agreements must only be submitted 24 hours ahead of the vote.  

Incoming Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that he wanted the vote to be held on Wednesday. Lapid added on Monday that delaying the vote to next week would be wrong.

“There is no reason in the world, legal or otherwise, that a government won’t be sworn in in two days except to put pressure,” Lapid said. “That is not proper.”