Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg will be the Labor Party candidate for Minister of Finance, Labor Party chairman MK Isaac Herzog and Hatnua Party chairperson Tzipi Livni said today at a press conference presenting their united list's candidate.
"The public is tired of survival politics, and repelled by ego-motivated politicians. That is the real governmental corruption. Israel has been paralyzed for six years under a prime minister who lacks horizons and vision," Herzog said.
He added, "Trajtenberg is the embodiment of Zionism. He immigrated to Israel as a boy, and carved out a place for himself in the Israeli economy with his own two hands. He got a PhD from Harvard, but he is a practical man. He was the first chairman of the National Economic Council in the Prime Minister's Office. Together, we presented a goal of reducing poverty and bolstering employment. We presented a revolution for Holocaust survivors following the 2007 crisis after years of neglect."
Livni said, "When I heard the cry on Rothschild Blvd three and a half years ago, I saw how the few became many. It opened people's hearts and mine, too. It changed priorities, and it should have. It had to happen, and it will happen after we replace the government. That's the reason why we're here - to say that people are becoming the focus. We're looking people in the eye and telling them, 'Your cry was not in vain.'"
Trajtenberg, who left the Council for Higher Education for politics several weeks ago, said that he had never conducted political negotiations with any group other than Herzog and Livni.
"I'm not responsible for media rumors," Trajtenberg declared. Referring to the committee he headed, he said that because he was not a cabinet member, he was unable to influence implementation of the recommendations. "I decided to join in order to carry out what the government didn't at the time, when it had the recommendations at hand. I'm repaying a debt."
He added, "We're all looking for a new way that will lead to a more just society, with real equality of opportunity, and will encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. When I headed the committee that was appointed following the social protest, I answered someone who asked, 'Why should we believe you?' that my job was to translate the longing of minds for change into professional language. I made it clear then that if the government didn't implement the recommendations, I would dedicate myself personally to completing the task, and that's what I'm doing now by joining Herzog and Livni and many others around them. The task is doable; it's in our hands. It's time to unite, not to divide - to create a large middle-of-the-road political force with a clear ideological platform that will be able to translate a vision into deeds - the combination of Herzog and Livni is doing just that, and I'm proud to join them."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 31, 2014
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