Rivlin gives Netanyahu two-week extension to form government

President Reuven Rivlin gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two more weeks to form a coalition.

Netanyahu asked Rivlin for the extension until May 29, as the Likud has yet to sign coalition agreements with any of its potential partners.

“On April 17, 2019, you tasked me with forming the government,” Netanyahu wrote. “During the following time, I and my negotiating staff talked to parties that recommended me before you, and we made serious progress towards forming a government.”

However, due to Passover, Remembrance Day and Yom Haatzmaut and “security events around the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said he must take the extra time permitted by law to finish building a coalition.

Rivlin gave Netanyahu the maximum additional time to form a government, 14 days.

Earlier Monday, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein set a date for the legislature to vote on a new State Comptroller, June 3.

The comptroller election will likely be the first challenge for the new coalition.

MKs must submit names of candidates to the Knesset Secretariat, with the signatures of at least 10 MKs and written agreement from the candidate, by next Monday, May 20.

The factions in the Knesset have yet to announce any candidates.

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