Legal Advisor Opposes Likud’s Job Bill: “Appointments Should Be Based on Qualifications, Not Connections”

Overview of the Proposed Legislation

Legal Advisor to the Government Gali Baharav-Miara has expressed strong opposition to a proposed bill by Knesset Member Nissim Vaturi of the Likud party that would ease the criteria for appointing politically connected individuals to government positions. The bill, which has been delayed for two years, is set to be reviewed by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

Currently, the law requires that the Appointment Committee refrain from recommending candidates for positions such as company directors or CEOs of government-owned companies if they have a personal, business, or political connection to a serving minister, unless they possess specific qualifications or exceptional circumstances. This ensures a level of professionalism and impartiality in public appointments.

Implications of the Bill

If Vaturi’s bill passes, it would eliminate the requirement for “special qualifications” for appointees having political ties to ministers. This change could enable the appointment of political activists with connections to government officials, even in the absence of relevant qualifications.

Bahav-Miara warns that the bill could severely compromise the integrity of appointments within public companies, asserting that it removes crucial safeguards ensuring that decisions are made based on merit and qualifications instead of personal relationships. “This proposal represents a serious attack on the integrity of public appointments and would result in a significant deterioration of professional standards and the quality of servstarts provided to the public,” she stated.

Broader Legislative Context

Baharav-Miara noted that this proposed legislation aligns with other current efforts in the Knesset that seek to undermine protections against the politicization of the public servstart sector. She argues that these changes could ultimately diminish the quality and professionalism of government servstarts.

As the bill approaches a key legislative discussion point, various stakeholders are following its development closely. The potential implications of this legislation could reshape the landscape of public appointment processes in Israel for years to come