During the last election campaign, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon spoke often about the courage, determination and leadership necessary to correct structural economic injustice in Israel, now dominated by monopolies and cartels. He sold himself as a different breed of politician, not indebted to anyone and capable of dealing with this head-on. He planned on becoming finance minister from day one of his campaign.

The public put its trust in this Don Quixote-like figure, who established a socio-economic party called Kulanu that won him 10 seats. Because of that, he was appointed finance minister. The chair of Kulanu also showed particular adeptness in his handling of the coalition negotiations. He walked away with the “toolbox” he demanded, namely control over the governmental organs most relevant to his plans, which would have enabled him to institute audacious reforms to housing, banking and the cost of living.

Kahlon was like a breath of fresh air. He gave people the feeling that he would use his position in the government to be a lobbyist for the ordinary citizens — those who struggle with the high cost of living, are unable to afford an apartment and are extorted by the banks’ scandalous fees. He was also one of the rare politicians with a proven track record; his cell phone reform, which opened the market to new players, had already saved families hundreds of shekels.

That's why it is so hard to avoid describing his performance as finance minister as a “disappointment,” especially since he also serves as chairman of the socio-economic Cabinet. This became even more clear when he submitted his 2016 budget proposal to the government and during its approval on the night of Aug. 5-6. Kahlon would have been expected to break up a meeting of the socio-economic Cabinet on Aug. 5, when Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Orit Farkash-Hacohen, the director general of the Public Utilities Authority, because she opposed the state’s compromise with the gas companies over resources and benefits' distribution. According to reports from that meeting, Kahlon did oppose firing her, but his opposition wasn't forceful — and it was certainly not the kind of leadership and courage he spoke about during the election campaign.