Thursday, May 29, 2008

Elections in Israel?

From JPost.com May 28, 2008 By GIL HOFFMAN AND HERB KEINON:

Olmert: I have no intention of resigning

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed Wednesday not to quit after Defense Minister Ehud Barak called on him to "detach himself from the day-to-day leadership of the country" in light of the Morris Talansky affair....

...and from Ynet News 29/5/08 by Roni Sofer:

Labor, Shas, Likud begin preparations for what they believe is inevitable resignation of PM, subsequent general elections by end of 2008. Some in Kadima begin prepping for September primaries.

Senior sources in Kadima said Wednesday that the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was very much aware of the political crisis enveloping his government following his investigation and that he is seriously considering stepping down, increasing the prospects for general elections by the end of 2008.

Should Olmert resign, said senior sources in the political area, there is a greater chance of the Knesset dispersing than there is of a transitional government taking over. Several Kadima members have already begun preparing for primaries to take place as soon as September.
Ynet has learned that senior members of the various political parties have met, trying to agree on an election date, most likely in November. Should that be the case, the municipal elections scheduled for November would be postponed....

...The only party not talking about the nearly-definite possibility of elections is Kadima. MK Yoel Hasson said Wednesday that should Olmert be indicted and choose to resign there is a possibility of transitional government or the possibility of an election, which I don't think should take place before March of 2009."

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