Reports that no-one is keen on the post are regarded as spin to allow Benjamin Netanyahu to hold it alongside the premiership.
Opinion is gaining ground in the Likud party that prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu will retain the finance portfolio in his hands as well as the premiership. Political sources say that recent reports that no-one was keen to take the finance portfolio were designed to pave the way for Netanyahu to take it for himself.
It Is not clear at present whether Netanyahu will appoint a minster under him to run the ministry, or a deputy minister, or no-one. If he does appoint someone, it will presumably be someone loyal to him whom he can supervise closely, and who shares his economic outlook.
On the other hand, because of the economic situation, it is possible that Netahyahu will prefer to appoint a full-time minister, and the possibility has still not been ruled out of making a professional appointment of someone with a reputation in the economic sphere. One of the names being mentioned in this context is that of former governor of the Bank of Israel Jacob Frenkel. There is also the possibility that the finance portfolio will in the end go to Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 5, 2009
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