Last update - 00:00 27/01/2007
Olmert lacking majority to change method for electing president
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not managed to raise the support needed to pass a bill to change the way in which the president is elected.
If passed, the identity of the next president will be determined in a secret ballot, replacing the current method of an open Knesset vote.
Labor, Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, the Pensioners' Party and the Arab parties, who represent over half of the 120 Knesset members, have all expressed their opposition to the proposal that was drawn up in order to increase the chances of Vice Premier Shimon Peres of being elected.
Despite their opposition, Knesset sources said it is still possible some of the parties will change their decision over the next few days due to Olmert's planned ministerial shake-up. The prime minister is expected to offer positions to parties that support his proposal.
MK Shelly Yachimovich (Labor) said that the so-called "Peres Law" is an attempt to change the Basic Laws for political benefit.
"The law system is not putty in the hands of political interest groups," she said.