Kadima rebel to propose bills via Labor

Labor will allow rebel Kadima MK Robert Tibayev submit bills under their allotment, after he was punished for vote against coalition.

By LAHAV HARKOV, GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Robert Tibayev 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Robert Tibayev 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Labor will allow rebel Kadima MK Robert Tibayev submit bills under their allotment, after he was punished on Wednesday by his party for voting against the coalition.
Labor faction leader Isaac Herzog said on Thursday that Tibayev may bring bills to a vote under the largest opposition party's legislative allotment. Each faction in the Knesset is allowed to submit a certain amount of bills, depending on the party's size.
"We will talk to other opposition factions in order to help every MK that refuses to surrender to the caprices and authority of the destructive coalition," Herzog said.
Tibayev was punished by Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz after repeatedly breaking coalition discipline. The Kadima MK is forbidden from submitting bills via his party for a month, and may not attend Knesset committee discussions.
On Wednesday, Tibayev voted in favor of a bill by MK Amir Peretz (Labor) granting minimum wage to IDF soldiers.
Earlier this month, Tibayev, as well as Kadima MKs Yoel Hasson and Nino Abesadze, voted for a bill proposed by Herzog to criminalize discrimination against women.
"I cannot change my opinions all at once, just because we suddenly joined the coalition. This was a good bill that fit Kadima’s agenda,” Tibayev said at the time.
Many Kadima MKs who are outspoken against discrimination against women were absent from the vote, Tibayev pointed out.
“I hoped our people would vote in favor of the bill,” he added. “I did what I thought was right.”
Tibayev was also the only Kadima MK not to vote in favor of joining the coalition. He, and several other MKs who supported former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, are rumored to be planning to break off and form a new party.