whoa!

We are full of the unprecedented. These are surely most unusual times.

The way it works is that the President decides which candidate should be given the mandate, that candidate tries to forma  government in 28 days, and almost always then asks for the allowed 14 day extension. if the candidate is unsuccessful after the 14 days, the President then hands the mandate over to another candidate for 28 days, with the possibility of a 14 day extension if necessary. If still no government coalition is formed after all that, the President can give the mandate to the Knesset for the MKs to decide, or he can call for new elections.

MK Benny Gantz officially requested from the President an extension to his mandate to try to form a governing coalition. The extension is almost standard procedure, and it is almost always requested and is always granted. It it basically a formality.

Yet President Rivlin said no to Gantz. He said under the current circumstances, we do not have time to waste, unless it is clear that this time will actually bring a government.

Rivlin then also said that he would not pass the mandate from Gantz to Netanyahu, but would pass it tot he Knesset for 14 days, and if there is still no government it would then go to elections.

I have no idea how elections will happen under this Corona, and partial lockdown, environment, but that is besides the point.

Rivlin set two precedents today. He said no to an extension request, and he said he won't pass it over to Netanyahu.

Rivlin might still be upset at Netanyahu for circumventing him by dissolving the Knesset two elections ago and going to elections, or for other reasons. With Netanyahu now at 59, due to Orly Levi Abuksis crossing lines to the Right and saying she now supports Netanyahu for PM, this is very strange, as he has a reasonable chance at forming a government.

That being said, elections seems to be handing the premiership to Netanyahu. As of right now, there is nobody to run against him. With Kachol Lavan dismantled and the Left in disarray, the only way Netanyahu can lose this is if the public gets really upset at Netanyahu's handling of the COVID-19 situation, and if some of the UTJ voters refuse to vote UTJ for their part in Corona (I have heard people from Bnei Braq upset at the party reps for basically being silent in the face of their crisis). Even then it would have to be a major rebellion of voters for Netanyahu to lose an election now.

There is also the possibility that in return for Netanyahu playing Gantz for the fiddle and wasting his time and stringing him along, Gantz might fulfill his threat and bring some anti-Bibi laws to vote and prevent Netanyahu from being able to form a government, elections or not.

Whatever happens next, Ruby Rivlin is already President Precedent.