Shinui faction puts forward no-confidence vote on Monday

The secular Shinui party, which quit the government earlier this month in a spat over an agreement between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Likud party and the ultra-Orthodox parties, on Monday will put to vote in the Knesset its first no-confidence motion. The Knesset plenum will also discuss on Monday two other no-confidence votes, proposed by the National Religious Party (NRP) and the National Union. Coalition members estimate however that the majority of 61 that is required to topple the government will not be achieved, because the Labor Party, which is currently in the opposition but is negotiating over joining the government, may abstain or be absent from the vote. Meanwhile, the Yahad party has promised Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a „safety net” in the case of no-confidence votes so that he can remain in power and implement the disengagement plan. Shinui’s no-confidence motion relates to the agreement signed two weeks ago between the Finance Ministry and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) to transfer NIS 290 million to its religious institutions. Shinui regards this as a „political bribe offered UTJ in exchange for support of the 2005 state budget.” Shinui fchair MK Reshef Chayne said on Sunday that „Shinui has no confidence in the government and prime minister, who have abandoned the country’s best interests and [use] public funds to appease the Likud Central Committee.” The NRP and National Union’s no-confidence motions concern the opening of the Grand Kanyon mall in Haifa on the Sabbath. Knesset to mull Paritzky request to leave Shinui The Knesset House Committee is also slated on Monday to discuss MK Yosef Paritzky’s request to be allowed to split from Shinui and receive party financing. As a separate faction, Paritzky could get NIS 700,000 in funding benefits and participate in all Knesset and committee debates. House Committee chairman MK Ronnie Bar-On decided to convene the committee despite the opinion of Knesset legal counsel Anna Schneider, who determined that the House Committee has no authority to decide on a split if the other 14 MKs from the fdo not want to split. Paritzky appealed to the House Committee after the fejected him in light of allegations that he tried to frame fellow Shinui member MK Avraham Poraz, and, he says, the fdoes not give him the right to speak in party discussions or allow him to be a member of Knesset committees. Paritzky said the party’s actions prevented him from fulfilling his primary parliamentary duty, which was to supervise cabinet activities. In response, Shinui whip MK Reshef Chayne said the fhad not sought to split from Paritzky. He said some of Paritzky’s claims did not match reality, noting that he receives full fservices and is permitted to table bills and proposals. „Knesset regulations do not allow a fto prevent an MK from exercising his rights as a publicly elected official and participating in parliamentary activity,” Chayne said. BPI-info