Without a president
B. Michael outlines benefits of keeping presidential institution, without president
However, I will say just this: In my view, the honorable president can fully continue serving in his post as long as the law, or himself, do not order him to stop doing so. In my view, there is also no need to appointed a temporary replacement for the president (should he decide to retire) and there is also no need to pick a new president. This is because, in my view, an empty presidential residence is better than a presidential residence that is home to Shimon Peres or Dalia Itzik.
To be honest, the deserted compound can replace the president with impressive efficiency. Instead of presenting their credentials to the president, newly appointed foreign ambassadors will be leaving them in the mailbox. The crowd of holiday visitors to the presidential Sukkah will be entering it from one end and exiting from the other more quickly with the absence of a man in a suit standing in the middle and bothering them with silly questions and meaningless conversation.
Institution itself is sufficient
The question of issuing pardons should be taken away from politicians and is better left to the High Court of Justice anyway. There are no longer military parades, thank goodness, and therefore there is no longer a need for a president that would authorize the army to march on.
The traditional Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony would also benefit. We would quickly reach the awaited-for fireworks stage if the crowd is spared the traditional, unavoidable collection of presidential clichés.
On holidays and when a New Year starts we can easily broadcast reruns of presidential greetings from previous years. Nobody would notice.
All that is left is the annual Bible Quiz and the Israel Prize ceremony. But is it worth it to maintain a complete presidential apparatus for the sake of one bible question and two dozen handshakes with the winners?
In other words, the "presidential institution" that so many insist on arguing is vital does not in fact need a president in order to continue its existence. The institution itself is sufficient.
