BICOM

Popular former Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon announced yesterday that he will return to politics before the next election at the head of a new party focused on tackling the cost of living.

Kahlon surprised the political world two years ago, when he announced that he would be taking a break from politics. He had been popular within the Likud Party and also attracted wider appeal as a champion of socio-economic reform. During his time in office, Kahlon was widely credited with overseeing a sharp reduction in mobile communications costs to the public by introducing greater industry competition.

Speaking yesterday at a Tel Aviv business conference, Kahlon ended speculation over his plans by announcing, “I plan on establishing a new political framework which will take care of things. This will happen before the next elections.” He said that the high cost of living in Israel is “not a twist of fate or an edict. This is something that can be addressed if the government decided to do so.” Public debate over the cost of living has been rekindled in recent weeks after a group of Israeli emigrants in Berlin launched a controversial social media protest.

Kahlon further commented, “If the government tells the large food companies: ‘You have a year and a half to reorganise, we’re going to open the market,’ all of the monopolists will know the party has ended.” He also took aim at high housing costs, placing responsibility on planning committees, the Land Administration and local municipalities. Kahlon said, “Everyone knows what the problem is and no one does anything.”

A Knesset Channel poll in July pointed to a Kahlon-led party garnering six Knesset seats, while others have indicated it would secure 10 MKs. Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party capitalised on public enthusiasm for a socio-economic agenda at the January 2013 election, but has so far struggled to initiate significant change. Kahlon could also draw support from his former Likud base.