New bill proposes limiting prime minister's job to two terms
Labor MK Merav Michaeli calls for adoption of system similar to US presidency, says all other senior government positions have restricted time limit.
A new bill initiated by MK Merav Michaeli (Labor) calls to limit the tenure of an Israeli prime minister to two consecutive terms, by amending the Basic Law: The Government.
According to the proposal, "There is a great importance for a democratic government to turnover the personality which stands at the head of the system, in order to prevent degeneration and detachment. Democracy is not royalty, and it is necessary to avoid long years of ruling by one person."
It is unclear whether Michaeli will be able to present the proposal to the current Knesset, with the coalition crisis worsening and the increased likelihood of the Knesset unraveling.
While the proposal would limit a prime minister to serving a maximum of two terms, as is customary in the United States, it "does not interfere with the identity of the ruling party, which constitutionally can last for ten years, as long as there is a majority to maintain the existing policies."
Michaeli noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported a similar limitation during the '90s as part of a vote on the Direct Election Law, but emphasized that the bill was "eliminating any suspicion of personal legislation" by referring to the establishment of the government in the 21st Knesset – two elections away.
If Netanyahu were to serve as prime minister in the 20th Knesset, it would be his third consecutive term, and his fourth stint overall. Up until now he has held the office of prime minister for almost nine years in total.
"When the same man stands at the head of the system for too long there is a danger of petrifaction and adaptation to their own needs rather than the needs of the public," said Michaeli.
"There is a limitation on service for all heads of Israeli systems - president, IDF chief of staff, attorney general, Mossad chief, head of the Shin Bet and more. It is advisable that the prime minister changes once every eight years," she added.
