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Likud scraps primaries, allows Netanyahu to reserve six slots on Knesset list

The Israeli prime minister will be able to name officials to the fifth or 10th place on Likud’s Knesset list for the March 23 election, as well as to slots number 26, 28, 36, 39 and 40.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement following his victory in the Likud Party primaries, Dec. 27, 2019. Photo by Flash90.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement following his victory in the Likud Party primaries, Dec. 27, 2019. Photo by Flash90.

The Likud’s Executive Committee on Wednesday approved Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to cancel the party’s internal elections ahead of the March 23 general elections.

The primaries would have determined the makeup of Likud’s Knesset slate. Instead, the committee agreed to keep the slate it had in the previous three elections, further allowing Netanyahu to reserve six slots on the list for personal nominations.

The prime minister will be able to name officials to the fifth or 10th place on Likud’s Knesset list, as well as for slots number 26, 28, 36, 39 and 40.

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