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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Daniel Bar-On / Jini)
Last update - 21:13 11/06/2008
Olmert tells Kadima: Get ready for party primaries
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Olmert, Kadima, Shas, Israel

Preparations are set to begin in the coming days for Kadima primary elections, after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday ordered two senior party officials to select a date for an early poll.

Olmert met on Wednesday MK Tzachi Hanegbi and MK Eli Aflalo, to determine the framework and a possible date for a Kadima party primary.

Hanegbi, who is chairman of the committee for party affairs, and Aflalo, head of the party's Knesset faction, requested the meeting in light of growing internal pressure on Olmert to agree to a process that would move the Kadima primary forward.
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Hanegbi said after the meeting that the decision was meant to restore political stability and to alleviate fears of Knesset factions concerned that general elections would be held too soon. According to Hanegbi, preparations for Kadima primaries will allow other to return to their normal routines in the Knesset.

Hanegbi also said that the ball is now in Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak's court.

"As defense minister, he [Barak] is well aware of the sensitive strategic issues that are on the government's table," he said. "Now he can approach his colleagues who urge him to leave the government, and tell them that he set an ultimatum for Kadima."

"Kadima is picking up the gauntlet. We have set the primaries in motion, and early elections are now off the agenda," Hanegbi concluded.

As it stands, the Kadima primaries are likely to be held in early September to allow time for requisite changes to be made party regulations.

Olmert's meeting with the Kadima officials followed an announcement made Tuesday by the Likud party that it would bring a bill before the plenum next week calling for the Knesset's dissolution in an effort to set a date for new elections, as early as November.

Also on Tuesday, coalition partners Labor and Shas announced they would support a proposal for the dissolution of the Knesset.

In light of these developments, calls within Kadima have intensified for a primary within the party, as a way of staving off Labor's threat to support the dissolution of the Knesset.

Meretz announced on Tuesday that unless Kadima announced this month a date in the near future for a primary, it would also support the call to dissolve the Knesset.

"Kadima needs to do something," said Labor faction head, MK Eitan Cabel, on Tuesday. "If by Wednesday they do not set a date for their primary we will back the dissolution of the Knesset. We will not accept any delays and Kadima needs to replace Olmert by the time the summer recess is over. If this does not happen, we will go to [national] elections."

Shas chairman, Industry and Trade Ministry Eli Yishai, reiterated his party's ultimatum Tuesday, that unless a decision was made by Wednesday to increase stipends for children, Shas would vote to dissolve the Knesset.

Hanegbi met with Olmert Tuesday but no decisions were made. Sources close to the prime minister said yesterday that he did not intend to fight against the primary, or to enthusiastically support it.

The same sources said Olmert would like to hold talks on the matter with all the relevant people, including the ministers who consider themselves candidates for the leadership of Kadima.

In recent days, Olmert has reiterated - during talks with ministers and Kadima MKs - that following the cross-examination of the chief witness of the prosecution, American fundraiser Morris Talansky, scheduled for June 17, the entire political scene will change and things will become clearer.

This is the main reason, sources close to Olmert argue, that the premier would like to delay setting a date for the primary until after the cross-examination.

Related articles:
  • Kadima leaders jostle to find date for primary; Hanegbi eyes Sept.
  • Kadima chiefs drum up support, as primary approaches
  • Olmert to Kadima: Give me time to prove my innocence
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