Ministers back bills giving government ‘sole discretion’ over senior appointments |
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation voted on Sunday to back a pair of bills giving government ministers “sole discretion” over the selection of candidates for senior appointments, including the attorney general and heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad security agencies.
“The government holds full and exclusive authority to appoint or refrain from appointing a person to a senior position in the civil service,” the legislation’s explanatory notes stated, adding that the terms of such officials “shall terminate within 100 days” of the formation of a new government, unless extended — and that the government would have the power to remove senior officials “at any time at its sole discretion.”
Among the positions affected by the bills are those of the IDF chief of staff, police inspector general, Shin Bet and Mossad chiefs, Prison Service head, civil service commissioner, and attorney general, as well as directors general of government ministries, and other senior officials.
The approval of the bills came despite strong opposition from the Office of the Attorney General, which has stated that they would unacceptably politicize government.
“The time has come for an elected government to be able to work with public officials who are committed to its policy,” and this legislation is an “important step” on the way to “restoring governance,” Justice Minister Yariv Levin said in a statement.
Should the bills pass into law — which requires them to pass three readings in the Knesset — a government-appointed eligibility committee will be........