Coalition negotiating teams of the Likud and Labor Parties agreed today that Peres will become Israel's first-ever "Associate Prime Minister" and the senior minister in the government after the Prime Minister.
It could very well be that the new unity government will be presented to the Knesset as early as this coming Monday – but only on condition that a coalition agreement is reached with the United Torah Judaism party. The Likud has so far not agreed to UTJ's demand for the preservation of the hareidi school system's independence in face of the Dovrat Committee recommendations.
Peres, a two-time former Prime Minister himself, had demanded to become Vice Prime Minister, a post already held by Ehud Olmert. This post has more authorities than the position of Deputy Prime Minister, of which there are more than one, and its holder becomes Acting Prime Minister in the event that the Prime Minister cannot fulfill his duties.
Naming Peres Vice Prime Minister, however, even minus the Acting PM function, required a change in Israel's Basic Law. Though this process was underway and could have been completed within another week, it came under much criticism from legislators, jurists and commentators as a manipulation of democracy for political needs. The current solution, creating the post of Associate Prime Minister, detours these problems, and all steps towards legislating what became known as the "Peres Law" will now cease.
Other than being considered the senior minister, it is not yet clear precisely which authorities Peres will hold. Prime Minister's Bureau staffers said Peres will definitely not be named Minister for Disengagement Affairs.
It could very well be that the new unity government will be presented to the Knesset as early as this coming Monday – but only on condition that a coalition agreement is reached with the United Torah Judaism party. The Likud has so far not agreed to UTJ's demand for the preservation of the hareidi school system's independence in face of the Dovrat Committee recommendations.
Shimon Peres
Naming Peres Vice Prime Minister, however, even minus the Acting PM function, required a change in Israel's Basic Law. Though this process was underway and could have been completed within another week, it came under much criticism from legislators, jurists and commentators as a manipulation of democracy for political needs. The current solution, creating the post of Associate Prime Minister, detours these problems, and all steps towards legislating what became known as the "Peres Law" will now cease.
Other than being considered the senior minister, it is not yet clear precisely which authorities Peres will hold. Prime Minister's Bureau staffers said Peres will definitely not be named Minister for Disengagement Affairs.