Likud Party Holds Primaries Amid Internal Tension and Shift in Party Control

The Likud Party held primaries on Monday to determine its candidate slate for the upcoming October 27 elections. Approximately 140,000 registered members were eligible to vote at polling stations nationwide. Voter turnout was reported at 26.44 percent. The process is particularly competitive because current polls suggest the party could lose a significant number of seats, potentially leaving many current ministers and members of Knesset without a spot on the list.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expanded his control over the party slate. Following a vote by the Likud Central Committee, Netanyahu was granted the authority to determine eight slots within the first 30 positions on the list. He has already allocated reserved slots to Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Likud Central Committee Chairman Haim Katz, and entrepreneur Oren Dobronsky. Netanyahu stated that he would not interfere in the national list and expressed trust in the members to choose their representatives.

Outlets with a center lean describe the contest as heated due to the few remaining open slots. A center-right outlet frames the event as a test of Netanyahu's party control and notes the internal tensions caused by the changes to the primary system. A left-leaning outlet frames the situation as Netanyahu asserting an iron grip and dominance over the party, suggesting the process is now about his personal control rather than the party itself.

Analysts suggest a divide exists between the party membership and the general voting public. According to Agam Labs data, a majority of Likud voters desire a more centrist government, while a majority of party members prefer a coalition similar to the current one. This gap, along with contentious issues such as ultra-Orthodox military conscription, may impact Netanyahu's re-election hopes as the party attempts to win back disillusioned voters.