Who Will Tackle the Cost of Living? 50% of New Knesset Members Lack Economic Background

As the candidate lists become clearer ahead of their submission to the Central Elections Committee on September 7–8, two grim conclusions emerge. First: except for the parties of Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot, there are almost no new candidates with an economic background who could lead an agenda of fighting the cost of living — both in the government and in the Knesset. The second conclusion: the next Knesset is expected to lose a significant portion of its parliamentary experience.

Many veteran Knesset members are expected to be appointed as ministers, so the ongoing work in committees and the oversight of government work will largely fall on new and inexperienced Knesset members. The implication is that even if the election campaign is full of promises to lower prices, expand social services, and increase budgets — it is doubtful there will be enough professionals in the Knesset who will know how to translate these promises into responsible economic policy and find the necessary funding sources.

Another problem is the shortage of new candidates with an economic and managerial background who could lead a real change in the government's priorities. Instead of continuing to distribute coalition funds and expanding the budgets of unnecessary ministries, a policy is needed that focuses on reducing the cost of living and increasing productivity and growth.

In the veteran parties — Likud, Yesh Atid, The Democrats, Religious Zionism, United Torah Judaism, Shas, The National Unity Party, and the Arab factions — almost no new candidates with significant economic ties have been added. In contrast, in the new parties that may pass the electoral threshold according to polls, one can find several prominent names. Eisenkot added the former Budget Director at the Ministry of Finance, Shaul Meridor, and the former Director General of the Ministry of Labor, Tair Afargan. Also, MK Orit Farkash-Hacohen, former Director General of the Electricity Authority and Minister of Science, is considered a natural candidate for a ministerial position.

The chairman of the Yahad party, Naftali Bennett, added three former directors general from the civil service: Keren Terner, former Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Liran Avishar Ben-Horin, former Director General of the Ministry of Communications, and Michal Negri, former Director General of the Ra'anana Municipality. This is a refreshing of the political system through candidates with managerial and public experience. However, this is still a small number of candidates with an economic background, precisely at a time when the next government will be required to make difficult decisions to reduce the deficit and ease the cost of living.

Furthermore, between 40 and 50 new Knesset members may enter the next Knesset. The main turnover is expected in the Yashar, Yahad, and The Democrats parties. A generational change is also expected in the veteran parties. In Likud, Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to place candidates who have not previously served in the Knesset in realistic spots. At the same time, a wave of resignations is emerging in Shas, Yesh Atid, and Religious Zionism. Added to this is the fact that many senior Knesset members, both in the coalition and in the opposition, are expected to be appointed as ministers if their parties are part of the government. For example, Naama Lazimi, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and others.

Also, in the current coalition parties — Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism, and Otzma Yehudit — almost all ministers are seeking to continue in their roles in the next term, except for Ofir Sofer, who announced his retirement from political life. The result is that a Knesset where many of the MKs will be new will also have to fill key positions in the Knesset committees, while most of the experienced MKs will serve in the government.

Except for the position of Knesset Speaker, four positions are considered particularly prestigious: Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the House Committee, Chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Moshe Gafni, Yinon Azoulay, and Vladimir Beliak are mentioned for the position of Finance Committee Chairman. Moshe Tur-Paz is mentioned as a candidate for the head of the Education Committee, Merav Ben-Ari for the head of the House Committee, while David Bitan may continue to head the Economics Committee if the position remains with Likud. The chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the chairmanship of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee are also expected to be given to veteran MKs who will not be appointed as ministers. However, new MKs are expected to head most of the other committees.

To this must be added the political challenge: if the change bloc forms the government, it will have to deal in the opposition with veteran and experienced ministers, including Yariv Levin, Gideon Sa'ar, Israel Katz, and Haim Katz. On the other hand, if Likud forms the government, Eisenkot, Bennett, Lapid, Lieberman, and Yair Golan will sit in the opposition. After having served as senior ministers, it is doubtful they will agree to serve as committee chairs.

Money transfers continue despite the election recess. The Finance Committee will convene tomorrow to approve a series of budget transfers within government ministries, some of which have political ties. MKs Vladimir Beliak and Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid-Yahad) appealed to the Knesset Legal Advisor Sagit Afik and the Finance Committee Legal Advisor Shulamit Ehrlich with a request to cancel the additional discussion in the Finance Committee regarding budget transfers, which was scheduled contrary to the House Committee's decision and without the explicit approval of the Consent Committee. According to them, on the eve of the Knesset's dissolution, the House Committee decided that the Finance Committee would hold one discussion during the first two weeks of the recess to approve budget requests. The discussion did indeed take place last week and lasted 11 hours, during which 19 of the submitted requests were approved. A similar appeal was filed by MKs Naama Lazimi and Orit Farkash-Hacohen. According to them, "the purpose of this maneuver is clear — the immediate injection of coalition funds in the amount of hundreds of millions of shekels for sectoral purposes."