Liora Shapiro
The Honorable Liora Shapiro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Tikva | |
| Assumed office 2 October 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob Lasker |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 19 August 2018 – 2 October 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Aron Leverson (Avoda) |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Rubinstein (Herut) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 October 1988 (age 35) Kanon, Tikva |
| Nationality | Tikvan |
| Political party | Tikvan Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Harel University (B.A. Philosophy; M.S. Conflict Resolution) |
| Website | shapiro.mk.tk |
Liora Shapiro (Yebru: ליאורה שפירא) is Prime Minister of Tikva and leader of the Tikvan Democratic Party, widely considered to be "The New Left". She is the youngest individual to ever lead the country and now second-youngest to serve in the Knesset. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, she was the leader of the Opposition after Aron Leverson, her predecessor, failed to beat Lasker's coalition in the snap 2018 election.
Shapiro initially ran for office when the Government was making policy decisions that were systematically attacking the nation's secular majority in favor of the minority, far-right extremist elements of its voter base -- those who have for decades, called for the outright annexation of the Samarran Valley. Her platform was centered around combating corruption and increasing transparency over the government's activities.
Recognizing Tikva was at a critical juncture in its short history, formed a new leftist party, the Tikvan Democratic Party, by merging Avoda with a half-dozen other similar-leaning parties. Her new party became the first since 1968 to win an outright majority, winning 62 of the 120 seats in the October 2019 elections. With her clear mandate, her Government intends to bring Tikva back to its leftist and secular origins. Shapiro is prepared for the fight she faces against the hardened religious right but she knows she has the backing of Tikva's secular majority.