S&P says Israeli political instability not yet affecting credit rating
Israel’s political instability is likely to continue, but the country’s fiscal situation is unlikely to be impacted in the immediate term, the SP credit rating agency said in a memo Tuesday, indicating it will not downgrade the Jewish state’s rating.
SP warned, however, that if the political uncertainty persists, the deadlock in the Knesset could make it more difficult for policymakers to reach consensus on economic issues.
“Fiscal risks could build if finding consensus on a balanced fiscal policy proved difficult as a result of persistently fragmented domestic politics,” the bulletin said.
The agency also said it expects growth to recover soon and lauded Israel for having sound debt policy, which it said continues to justify its rating of AA-/Stable/A-1+. But it warned a future government will need to put a greater focus on “budgetary consolidation” beyond this year to prevent a further rise in the debt load.
The bulletin was issued after last week’s elections — the fourth in two years — ended inconclusively, with a fifth round seen as a growing possibility due to both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rivals’ lack of a clear path to forming a government.
Finance Minister Israel Katz called the document an “expression of confidence” in Israel’s economy.
“Now we need to stabilize the political system and advance laws and reforms that will jumpstart the economy and economic growth,” Katz wrote on Twitter.
In December, a senior SP director told The Times of Israel that if the political instability hampers Israel’s ability to rein in spending this year, the country was at “real risk” of a ratings downgrade.