Poll finds most Israelis demand president resign immediately in light of his imminent indictment; public wants to see Vice Premier Peres replacing Katsav
A majority of Israelis think President Moshe Katsav must resign his post and not settle for a temporary suspension from office. A poll performed by Yedioth Ahronoth and the Dahaf Institute Wednesday revealed that 71 percent of respondents demand the president resign immediately.
Ynet Poll
Ynet readers say Katsav must resign / Ynet
Eighty-nine percent say Katsav should immediately leave President's Residence following decision to indict him
The Dahaf poll, which was conducted among 516 participants (with a 4.4. percent margin of error), also focused on the question of the president's successor, and showed that 45 percent of the public prefer to see Vice Premier Shimon Peres elected to the top position.
Peres' associates said Wednesday that the vice premier plans to run 'no matter what," namely –regardless of the type of vote and even if the race is to be decided by a secret ballot.
Kadima members confirmed that the Prime Minister's Office decided to "throw all their weight behind Peres and do everything to help him win."
The first runner up in the race, according to the poll, is Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Israel's former chief rabbi, who enjoys a 22 percent approval rate.
Knesset Member Reuven Rivlin follows with a 15 percent approval rate. Although he is a member of the Likud, Rivlin is supported by MKs from across the political spectrum.
Collette Avital, the Labor Party's candidate for president, was supported by only eight percent of the poll's participants. Some 10 percent preferred not to pick any one of the candidates.
The full survey will be published in Yedioth Ahronoth Friday.
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