Paz-Pines blasts bills he says will cut Knesset's powers

By JPOST.COM STAFF
MK Ophir Paz-Pines (Labor) on Sunday blasted several government-led bills which he said would cut the powers of the Knesset. The bills include the requirement of a two-thirds majority in order to dissolve the Knesset, a no confidence motion only taking effect after a replacement government is formed, increasing the number of MKs needed for passing budget-related bills and allowing the division of a faction by two thirds of its members or seven MKs - whichever is smaller. "The government is putting forward a series of bills which have one aim only: to drastically cut the powers of the Knesset in monitoring and criticizing the government," said Pines in a statement. "Passing these bills will constitute a serious, unprecedented blow to the foundations of democracy and to the principle of the separation of powers." "Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided to make the Knesset irrelevant," he added.