Olmert. To wait for Peres
Photo: AFP
Livni. Stopper ticking
Photo: Ofer Amram
Olmert expected to announce resignation
After 33 months in office, prime minister set to deliver statement during Sunday's cabinet meeting, announce that he will step down. Move expected to be completed at beginning of October, following president's return from UN General Assembly
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
is expected to announce his resignation Sunday morning in a special statement delivered at the weekly cabinet meeting. It is still unclear, however, when he will submit his resignation to President Shimon Peres.
Thirty-three months after entering the Prime Minister's Office as Ariel Sharon's replacement, Olmert is expected to inform his 25 ministers that he has decided to resign.
In any event, Olmert will continue to serve as head of a caretaker government until an alternative government is formed or until general elections take place, should newly elected Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni fail to build a coalition.
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He will continue to run the cabinet meetings until Foreign Minister Livni completes the task of forming a new government.
Officials at the prime minister and president's offices refused to say when Olmert would submit his resignation to Peres.
The president is expected to leave to New York on Monday in order to attend the United Nations General Assembly and is scheduled to stay there for a week and to deliver a speech to world leaders.
Olmert and Livni decided not to attend the conference in light of the political developments in Kadima and in the coalition.
Peres is expected to return from New York just before the Jewish New Year, at the beginning of next week. Olmert is likely to refrain from visiting the president immediately after Sunday's cabinet meeting, as this would not give Peres enough time to consult Knesset faction heads on the person they believe should be tasked with forming an alternative government.
This timetable has led the Olmert and Peres offices to consider postponing the prime minister's resignation until after Rosh Hashana, on October 2. Sources at the Prime Minister's Office said Olmert and Peres would coordinate the resignation submission date, which they claimed has yet to be set.
Officials at the President's Residence said it was the prime minister's responsibility to decide when to submit his resignation, and refused to elaborate.
Elections possible in 5 months
This timetable gives the foreign minister a few more "days of grace" before forming her new government. After Olmert and Peres complete the formal step, the president will consult the Knesset faction heads – a move which could take up to a week.
Following a round of consultations, the candidate with the best chance of forming a new government will be given this task. Should this candidate be Livni, she would have to give her consent to the president within three days.
Livni will then attempt to complete the task within the fixed time of 42 days, according to the law, and will be able to receive an extension from Peres.
Should the foreign minister fail to form a government within this timetable, she will inform the president of her failure and general elections will be held in Israel within 90 days.
Therefore, should general elections be declared, they would take place within 142 days – nearly five months - from now.
