Shas chairman Arye Deri calls for internal examination into party's election failure
Deri stressed to those attending that he was not interested in reports that sugarcoat reality or attempts to downplay the scale of the defeat, instead asking for harsh, pointed conclusions.
Shas chairman Arye Deri has announced plans to conduct an extensive internal investigation into the reasons behind his Sephardi haredi party's disappointing electoral performance. The recent elections resulted in the party losing approximately half of its political influence, prompting Deri to convene party representatives last week.
He instructed them to submit comprehensive data on election results within their respective areas, alongside an analysis of the decline and recommendations for future improvement. Deri emphasized the need for honest and candid conclusions, expressing disappointment in superficial reports that minimize the magnitude of the loss. The party's extensive grassroots network, previously considered a significant asset, is being employed to dissect the reasons for the electoral failure.
As data and conclusions are presented to Deri, some within Shas suspect the underlying causes are apparent. The party's overreliance on certain factions, hasty attempts to appeal to traditional Jewish voters, and extreme rhetoric have alienated traditional supporters. Deri faces the challenge of regaining the trust of these voters while preserving the party's unique identity and ultra-Orthodox base.
The road to recovery will be long and arduous, but Deri remains committed to rebuilding the party's foundation.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
