• Tweeter
  • republish

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises Likud "a big victory in the upcoming elections". (illustration image) REUTERS / Ammar Awad

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, accused for more than a month of corruption, declared himself Friday December 27th winner of the primary to appoint the leader of his right-wing party, Likud, which he will lead to the legislative elections in March .

" A huge victory ! Thank you to the Likud members for their confidence, support and affection, ”launched Benjamin Netanyahu on Twitter shortly after midnight, an hour after the end of the poll, whose partial results credited him with an easy victory over his rival Gideon. Saar.

" With your help and that of God, I will lead Likud to a great victory in the upcoming elections and we will continue to lead the State of Israel to unprecedented successes ," added Benjamin Netanyahu.

After the polling stations closed at 11:00 p.m., Gideon Saar, former Minister of Benjamin Netanyahu and MP, thanked his supporters , Likud volunteers and voters. Some 57,000 party members voted for the primary demanded by Gideon Saar after last month's charges against Benyamin Netanyahu for corruption, breach of trust and fraud in three cases.

Benjamin Netanyahu, head of Likud since 1993 - apart from six years when the party was led by Ariel Sharon - denounced " false accusations motivated by political considerations ". He now has the heavy task of leading the Likud campaign for the March legislative elections, the third in less than a year.

After the early elections in April and September, neither Benyamin Netanyahu nor the centrist Benny Gantz of the Bleu-Blanc party managed to rally 61 deputies, the threshold of parliamentary majority to form a government. President Reuven Rivlin had to entrust this task to the Parliament itself, which did not succeed either, precipitating the country towards an additional poll.

(with AFP)