Governance Committee aims to create stability

Coalitional Governance Committee meets with Forum for Government Stability to examine ways to improve government, election systems

Omri Efraim|Published: 05.27.11 , 00:28

Promoting stability- Chairman of the coalition Governance Committee Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Committee member MK Einat Wilf (Independence) and Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser met Thursday with the Forum for Government Stability – a lobby of businessmen, politicians and academics acting to change the governmental and election systems in Israel.

Forum members in attendance included businessmen Yitzhak Nazarian, Michael Strauss, Amos Shapira and Galia Albin, former Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman.

Minister Katz reviewed the topics to be discussed by the coalitional committee, established by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in February.

Among the topics on the agenda: Reviewing the presidential election system, raising the threshold, examining the possibility of declaring the head of the largest party as prime minister, and reevaluating the number of Knesset members needed for a vote of non-confidence against the government.

"A main consideration in formulating the committee's position is the desire to enable the prime minister to act with minimal constraints and allow ministers to implement their policies. Hence, creating governmental stability and strength," said Minister Katz.

The transportation minster noted that e some of the decisions, such as raising the threshold and the number of Knesset members needed for a vote of non-confidence, can secure a majority that would lead to a realistic change and a better functioning system.

According to General Director of the Citizens' Empowerment Center in Israel Yuval Lipkin, "the goal of the meeting is to promote the stability of the government together with the Governance Committee.

"The governance issue has become the Israeli democracy's biggest enemy, and it undermines every aspect of living for every Israeli resident. Long-term plans are not promoted, or simply not made, because ministers change before they can complete important reforms."