Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu could benefit from competition, President Reuven Rivlin stated Saturday night, to bolster his motivation and leadership potential.
"Undoubtedly a democratic state without an alternative is a danger to democracy itself," Rivlin noted, in an interview with Channel 2 News.
"We have a prime minister who could be a thousand times better if he knew that someone was challenging his place," he added. "If I were to pay attention to polls, in which one of the candidates has around 40-percent support and the others only around 10 percent, that is very worrying."
According to the latest polls, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is still seen as the best candidate for prime minister, with a 24% vote despite a severe drop in approval ratingsfollowing a ceasefire agreement at the end of Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.
Rivlin's comments also surface after tensions simmered between Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) and the Prime Minister over budgetary disagreements, which led to an alleged bid by Lapid to head the Opposition - and, thus, open the potential for the coalition's collapse.
Rumors surfaced again after Likud - which has experienced much infighting over the past several months, culminating in the climactic dismissal of Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon - suffered yet another blow, after Interior Minister Gidon Sa'ar announced he would be quitting politics.
Rivlin did not see a possibility of new elections being called, however. "Going to elections rather than addressing current issues would be inappropriate," Rivlin said. "The election, if it takes place, would not change the order of priorities."
'Like My Younger Brother'
Rivlin was also asked about his relationship with Netanyahu, as political sources stated repeatedly during the presidential race that the Prime Minister was "desperate" to block Rivlin's candidacy.
Rivlin stressed throughout the Channel 2 interview that differences with Netanyahu have been put aside, however - and led to a courteous and professional relationship.
"The president and the president have a good relationship now, meeting and talking by phone whenever either of them thinks he needs to draw the other's attention [to an issue] or advisement," Rivlin stated.
"Bibi is like a brother to me, my younger brother," he added. "He knows that I reached [the presidency] and treats me as the president, with all respect due [to that position]."