Olmert would replace Sharon as PM if needed

If Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's state of health precludes him from being able to run the country's affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will act as premier in Sharon's place.

Olmert, who is also the finance minister, is allowed to serve as acting prime minister for up to 100 days. In that time period, the acting premier is given all the authority invested in the prime minister, but after 100 days have passed, the premier is considered to have resigned. This automatically brings about the resignation of the entire government.

The Basic Law on Government states that after the 100 days in which an acting prime minister takes over, the president must begin the process of forming a new government. But in light of the fact that the elections for the 17th Knesset have been set for March 28 (in another 100 days), elections will take place as scheduled and the president will give the responsibility of forming a government to the MK who heads the party with the best chances of forming a stable government.

Sharon's illness will not have any impact on the date on which elections are slated to take place, unless his condition seriously deteriorates and he dies. In such a situation, 80 MKs can vote to delay the elections if they decide there are "special circumstances" requiring such a move.

The only time Knesset elections have been postponed was in 1973, when they were delayed from the end of October until December 31 due to the Yom Kippur War.