There is still a chance: The Likud decision that may help Hadar Muchtar
Likud management has postponed the deadline for deciding on the reduction of tenure requirements for non-member candidates running in the primaries. Delays stemming from Likud tribunal rulings and District Court petitions have pushed the deadline, likely to Monday.
Likud management has decided to postpone the deadline for the Prime Minister's decision regarding the reduction of tenure requirements for those who were not previously Likud members to run in the primaries. The deadline was supposed to expire today, but delays resulting from the Likud tribunal's decision and petitions to the District Court have led to a further postponement—apparently until Monday.
In addition, this evening (Thursday) at 22:00 marks the final deadline for candidate registration. Although registration had officially closed earlier this week, Likud management decided to allow an additional period until this evening. Knesset members who registered as candidates for the national list and the districts are also expected to make a final decision on where they will run; however, as this matter is still under judicial review, it is possible that this deadline will also be extended.
As previously reported, there is a dispute within the Prime Minister's circle regarding the tenure reduction for Hadar Muchtar. While some officials in the office believe there is no justification for shortening the tenure for Muchtar, arguing she does not meet the image requirements the party needs for the upcoming elections, others suggest that Muchtar could attract large numbers of young people who follow her on social media.
The additional delay stems from the legal turmoil that has accompanied the Likud primaries in recent weeks. A series of petitions filed with the movement's tribunal and subsequently to the District Court led to repeated changes in the process schedule, including issues concerning electoral districts, candidate lists, and election regulations. Consequently, Likud management decided to postpone the decision on tenure reduction requests to avoid acting before the full legal picture is clarified.
At the same time, the primary race continues under dynamic scheduling. Knesset members who submitted candidacies for both the national list and the districts have not yet received certainty regarding their final running place, as the issue remains influenced by ongoing legal proceedings.
