The countdown to the end of Ehud Olmert’s premiership will begin next week, when senior Kadima members will meet to agree upon a date for primaries for a new leader.
Mr Olmert has signalled that he will not oppose the move, though he is still maintaining that he has no plans to resign. Meanwhile, support is growing in the Knesset for bringing forward the elections.
MK Tzachi Hanegbi will convene the meeting of Kadima’s Party Affairs Committee next Wednesday. Representatives of all four prospective candidates, ministers Tzipi Livni, Shaul Mofaz, Meir Sheetrit and Avi Dichter will take part. The move comes as a result of pressure both within the party and from other coalition members to find a way out of the impasse caused by the investigation of Mr Olmert’s alleged bribe-taking.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: looking towards an uncertain future
Mr Olmert is hoping that the cross-examination of key witness Morris Talansky by his own lawyers in two weeks’ time will prove that the corruption suspicions are baseless. According to sources in his office, Mr Olmert understands that he has to allow his party to move along since the current situation will cause the political structure to implode.