Far-right leader Lieberman emerges as kingmaker in Israeli election as exit polls published
Record ID:
1433201
Far-right leader Lieberman emerges as kingmaker in Israeli election as exit polls published
- Title: Far-right leader Lieberman emerges as kingmaker in Israeli election as exit polls published
- Date: 17th September 2019
- Summary: JERUSALEM (SEPTEMBER 7, 2019) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS OF FAR-RIGHT LEADER AND POSSIBLE KINGMAKER IN ISRAELI ELECTION, WATCHING EXIT POLLS ON BIG SCREENS AT LIEBERMAN'S YISRAEL BEITENU PARTY HEADQUARTERS
- Embargoed: 1st October 2019 21:21
- Keywords: Israel election Avigdor Lieberman kingmaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exit polls
- Location: JERUSALEM/ TEL AVIV; HAIFA; SHAAR HANEGEV/ KEREM SHALOM COMMERCIAL TERMINAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GAZA, ISRAEL
- City: JERUSALEM/ TEL AVIV; HAIFA; SHAAR HANEGEV/ KEREM SHALOM COMMERCIAL TERMINAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GAZA, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX1PTTZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS VIDEO WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Israel's former defence chief and far-right leader Avigdor Lieberman, emerged as a possible kingmaker in the parliamentary election held on Tuesday (September 17) after exit polls showed no clear winner at the ballot.
His joyful supporters who gathered at Yisrael Beitenu headquarters in Jerusalem said they hoped a unity government would be formed after exit polls predicted Lieberman to win eight parliament seats out of 120.
Another supporter suggested Lieberman may be in a position where he could possibly end Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decade in power. "Bibi's cheerful days are over," said Kalman Besser, a 71-year-old pensioner from the central Israeli city of Ramat Gan, using Netanyahu's nickname.
Blue and White is led by centre-left Benny Gantz. Netanyahu leads the right-wing Likud. Lieberman is head of far-right Israel Beitenu.
A former nightclub bouncer with a heavy Russian accent, Lieberman used to carry a fresh change of shirt for his political boss, Benjamin Netanyahu.
After working as an aide to the right-wing Netanyahu, Lieberman quit the Likud Party and formed the far-right Yisrael Beitenu. He then went on to serve in a string of governments, including under Netanyahu, but quit as his defence chief last November in protest at a ceasefire in Gaza.
Since Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government after an election in April, Lieberman, 61, has refocused his political strategy to attract new supporters.
Lieberman could be the linchpin in determining the composition and leadership of the next governing coalition.
It was Lieberman who handed Netanyahu, in power for the past decade, a rare defeat after the April election. Netanyahu needed Yisrael Beignet's five seats to secure a majority of 61 in the 120-member parliament but Lieberman rejected his approaches.
Lieberman is pushing for a "national unity" government that would include his own party, Netanyahu's Likud and its strongest challenger, the centrist Blue and White party, but exclude what he calls "messianic" religious factions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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