Moshe Kahlon votes in Likud primaries: Netanyahu considers offering him a reserved spot

Former Finance Minister and former chairman of Kulanu, Moshe Kahlon, was spotted today (Monday) in Haifa arriving to vote in the Likud primaries. Behind the scenes, discussions are taking place among the Prime Minister's staff regarding the possibility of offering him a reserved spot in a high position on the party list.

Senior Likud members have spoken with Kahlon, conveying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is interested in reserving a spot for him. The message conveyed on behalf of the Prime Minister was: "If you want, I am saving a high spot for you." Kahlon has neither expressed willingness nor ruled out the offer entirely.

In recent days, Likud conducted polls on the cost of living, identifying Moshe Kahlon as the figure most associated with the issue. In recent months, he has held meetings with politicians from various parties. It has become known that Netanyahu is considering offering him a reserved spot in a high position to fill the social-statist-economic slot. However, Kahlon told his associates recently that he "has not yet decided whether to return to politics."

Kahlon began his political career in the late 80s. He was first elected to the Knesset on behalf of Likud in 2003 and served as Deputy Speaker. In 2009, he was appointed Minister of Communications. Ahead of the 2015 elections, he founded the Kulanu party, which won 10 mandates, and served as Minister of Finance. He returned to Likud in 2019 before announcing his retirement from political life in 2020.

Kahlon, who in recent years served as chairman of the board of the non-bank credit company Unit Credit, was convicted in May of this year in a plea bargain for reporting offenses under the Securities Law. The court imposed a suspended prison sentence, a fine of 180,000 shekels, and an 18-month restriction on serving as an officer in a public company. The agreement stipulates that Kahlon is eligible to run in the elections scheduled for October 27.