MK Revivo: I won't run in Likud primaries - because of the slots

MK Eliyahu Revivo from Likud announced today (Thursday) that he will not run in the Likud primaries scheduled for next week, due to the electoral system and the reserved slots that make it difficult for sitting MKs to secure a realistic spot. Revivo was elected as the representative of the Shfela district with about 6,000 votes. The difficulty stems from the eight reserved slots granted to Netanyahu and the failure to approve the reform that would have allowed sitting MKs to compete for district slots.

MK Eliyahu Revivo from Likud announced today (Thursday) that he will not run in the Likud primaries, which will take place next week. In a statement he published, Revivo said: "The electoral system and the reserved slots that stand before us today make it very difficult for sitting MKs to secure a realistic spot again," and added that "Likud is my home and my public mission is not over; it is simply moving to the next chapter." Revivo was elected to the current Knesset as the representative of the Shfela district, with about 6,000 votes in the primaries. The article explains that the difficulty for sitting Likud MKs to win a realistic spot stems from two factors: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was granted eight reserved slots in the upcoming list, and the reform promoted by Netanyahu and Minister Haim Katz, which was intended to allow sitting MKs and ministers to compete for district slots, was not approved. Initially, it was reported that the Likud Central Committee approved the proposal by a narrow majority, but the Likud court accepted the appeals and ruled that district slots would continue to be allocated only to new candidates. In addition, most polls predict Likud will win fewer seats than in the current Knesset.