Rivlin plans to meet with party factions on Sunday

President Reuven Rivlin can choose any member of Knesset who he deems capable, and if that person agrees, he or she can be given the chance to put together a coalition.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
President Reuvin Rivlin votes in Jerusalem (photo credit: JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH)
President Reuvin Rivlin votes in Jerusalem
(photo credit: JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH)
President Reuven Rivlin is gearing up to meet with Knesset party factions on Sunday to hear their recommendations for the Member of Knesset that they deem to be the most suitable to form a government.
Rivlin has to wait till after the weekend to begin the round of meetings due to the fact that the final counting of votes will not be completed till some time on Thursday.
He intends to start with the smaller parties leaving the Joint Arab List, the Zionist Union and Likud till last.
Although Rivlin has said that he will insist that every party make a recommendation, it is not certain that he can force the issue.  In past years there were party delegations which came to the president, discussed the matters that bothered them, but refused to nominate a candidate.
At least one party has already announced its intention not to recommend anyone, and another party has said that it is wavering between recommending and not recommending.
Rivlin stated several times during the campaign that a new government must be in place as quickly as possible.
Although it would seem that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be installed in office for the fourth time, Rivlin is not duty-bound by law to task him with forming a government.
He can choose any member of Knesset who he deems capable, and if that person agrees, he or she can be given the chance to put together a coalition.