Labor Party runoff underway
Ballots open as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, MK Ami Ayalon face-off in Labor Party elections
Shortly after the ballots opened, both candidates cast there vote, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak in Kfar Saba, and MK Ami Ayalon in Moshav Geva Carmel.
Ami Ayalon casts his vote (photo: Doron Golan)
Barak called on Labor Party members to vote, and said that he was the only one who could unite the Labor party, and beat Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ayalon said that he felt he had a good chance at winning. “If they want a regeneration of the party, and a different road than the one it has been taking, my chances are good – if not, I will remain in the party as a regular member.”
Over 103,000 registered party members will be given the chance to pick their new leader, who they hope will lead the party to brighter days.
It is difficult to say which of the two candidates has a greater chance at victory. There is an unsettling uncertainty in both candidates’ campaign headquarters, as recent polls have drawn extremely different pictures of the vote’s outcome.
MK Yoram Marciano commented on the polls predicting victory for Barak, “I don’t buy it, a poll that shows Ayalon losing 20 percent in a week. It’s not possible.”
Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon, from Barak’s camp, said that he did not believe in polls, but pointed out that he felt confident about the vote. “It’s looking good. If we win, it will be by a landslide. If we lose, it will be by a few votes,” he said.
Officials at Barak’s camp said there would be no shock if the former prime minister won the vote; the minister would remain in their offices, and Defense Minister Amir Peretz would receive a ministerial portfolio down the line.
However, should Ayalon win the vote, the Labor party will have a power struggle to look forward to.
