MK Aryeh Deri (Shas) has proposed a new law to the Knesset that would limit the size of any potential government.
Deri's proposed law would limit the government to be made up of a maximum of 18 ministers and 9 Deputy Ministers.
The current law related to the size of the government does not put any limit on how many ministers would be appointed, nor how many deputy ministers. the only limit it does place is that each head of a ministry can appoint one deputy.
It looks like Deri's proposal is an attempt to hinder the formation of a government coalition, or at least a form of revenge for what looks like Shas being sent to the Opposition. This law, were it to pass, would limit how much "political bribery" Netanyahu will have available with which to seduce coalition partners.
Strange enough, the people Deri is upset at have themselves either demanded such a limitation or have proposed similar laws in the past. MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) made the limitation of the government to 18 ministers a central theme of his election campaign and of his coalition negotiations. MK Uri Ariel (HaBayit HaYehudi) has in the past proposed such a law himself. So whille Aryeh Deri might be trying to hurt them, he is really promoting their agendas. At some later point, if this law would pass, it might even come back to hurt Shas, as it would limit the positions available to be offered to Shas. Shas was a major part of the increase in number of ministries and deputy positions formulated. It started with Ariel Sharon, expanded by Ehud Olmert and was then expanded even further by Benjamin Netanyahu - all done as political bribery to coalition partners.
One day, when Shas gets back into the government, and one day they will whether it is in the current government or in some future government, they might regret this very law that they themselves are now trying to pass out of revenge. Despite that irony, this is a law that I like. The government has gotten too large, and it is all at the taxpayers expense. If a law is required to shrink it back down to more appropriate levels, so be it.
Religion Magazine
