The new government will stand behind the national budget as prepared by the outgoing Barak government and Labor party Finance Minister Avraham Shochat. There is some concern in the Likud that the budget will not be passed by the end of March; such an eventuality would force new Knesset elections. Likud Knesset faction head MK Ruby Rivlin has begun coordinating with Shochat how to bring the bill for a Knesset vote.