Updated on 28 October 2026
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The Norwegian Law

A minister can leave the Knesset while remaining a minister, allowing another list member to enter and work in committees.

With the parliamentary group chair’s consent, a minister or deputy minister can resign from the Knesset while staying in government. The prime minister cannot.

All steps in text
  1. With the parliamentary group chair’s consent, a minister or deputy minister can resign from the Knesset while staying in government. The prime minister cannot.
  2. The seat passes to the next candidate on the list.
  3. On leaving government, the minister returns to the Knesset.
  4. The number is limited by parliamentary group size: up to 5 in a group of 10 members or more, up to 4 in a group of 7 to 9, and up to 3 in a group of 4 to 6.

✗Common assumption The Norwegian Law adds Knesset members.

✓In practice There are still 120 seats. Only the occupants change as ministers make room for list colleagues.

Why it matters

After a government is formed, some of the names you see in the Knesset will be candidates from lower positions on the lists who entered through this law.

Sources: Israel Democracy Institute · The Norwegian Law (Hebrew) ↗

Updated on 28 October 2026. The explanations were rewritten in plain language using official sources and are not legal advice.

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