From the election to a government: how it works
The election decides who sits in the Knesset. This is where the process of forming a government begins.
This guide was written on 31.10.2026. It explains the rules of the process only.
Steps of the process
Step 1
The election took place
Took place27.10.2026
Election day
Voters chose the members of the 26th Knesset.
Last checked 31.10.2026 · Source: gov.il
Step 2Next stage
Publication of the official results
By4.11.2026
Last day under the law; publication can happen earlier
The Central Elections Committee publishes the official results in Reshumot. From that moment the 7 days to assign the mandate are counted.
Publication in Reshumot, or a new official announcement, has not yet been verified. A date marked "By" is a deadline, not a set date.
Last checked 31.10.2026 · Source: Central Elections Committee
Step 3
The President chooses who tries first
Not set yet
The dates of the consultations and of assigning the mandate will be set in an announcement by the President's Residence
Within 7 days of the official results being published
The President consults the faction representatives and assigns the task of forming a government to a Knesset member who agreed to it. The main consideration is that member's chance of forming a government.
How many recommenders are needed? The law sets no minimum number. Even the largest party, or the candidate with the most recommendations, does not get the job automatically.
The mandate to form a government is the opportunity to try to form it.
Example onlyFor example: if the results are published on 4.11, the mandate will be assigned by 11.11.
Last checked 31.10.2026 · Source: President's Residence
Step 4
Trying to reach agreements
Not set yet
The date will be set after the mandate is assigned
28 days from the day the mandate is actually assigned
The mandate holder negotiates to form the government. The President may extend the first attempt to 42 days in total; the extension is not automatic.
An attempt also fails if the mandate is returned before time runs out, or if the Knesset rejects the government in a confidence vote. These are possibilities, not steps everyone must go through: the path can end early, and the second attempt is not mandatory.
The President decides how to continue
Within 3 days
If the attempt fails, the President assigns the task to another Knesset member who agreed, or announces that a government cannot be formed, and the process moves to the Knesset members' request stage.
A second attempt, if assigned
28 days
The second candidate has 28 days, with no extension.
A request by at least 61 Knesset members
Within 21 days
If the second attempt also fails, or the President skipped it, at least 61 Knesset members can ask in writing that the task be assigned to a Knesset member who agreed to it in writing.
A further attempt
14 days
If the request was submitted, the President assigns the task within two days. The candidate is given 14 days.
If this path also fails — another election
If no request was submitted as required, or the further attempt failed, the law's mechanism for dissolving the Knesset and holding elections is triggered.
Under section 11, the election is held on the last Tuesday before the end of 90 days from the relevant announcement by the President, or from the rejection of confidence, as the case may be.
There is no running count of process days here, because the path can end at any stage.
Last checked 31.10.2026 · Source: President's Residence
Step 5
The Knesset votes on the government
Not set yet
The date will be set after the announcement that a government was formed
Within 7 days of the Knesset Speaker's announcement to the Knesset that the government was formed
After the candidate announces that a government was formed, the Knesset is presented with its composition, policy guidelines and division of roles. The government takes office when the Knesset expresses confidence in it.
More votes in favor than against are needed, not necessarily 61 in favor. Abstentions count neither for nor against.
Illustrative example 58 For · 57 Against · 5 Abstain — The government wins the confidence vote.
The confidence vote can be reached from any of the attempts to form a government.
Last checked 31.10.2026 · Source: President's Residence
Quick questions
No. A recommendation is about who gets the opportunity to try to form a government. Deciding to join the coalition or support the government is a separate decision.
Yes. A minority government can win confidence with outside support or abstentions by Knesset members, as long as more vote in favor than against.
The outgoing government keeps serving until a new government is formed.
This guide explains the path to forming a government after an election. It does not cover no-confidence routes, and it contains no forecasts, candidate names or target dates. Current information on the election results is on the homepage and in the coalition simulator.