Right-wing parties demand elections
Yisrael Beiteinu, National Union-NRP faction members meet with Peres, call for early elections. President expected to complete round of consultations with Knesset factions before leaving for NY Monday night, task FM Livni with forming new government
Before leaving, Peres will task one of the Knesset members with the mission of forming a new government, following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's resignation. Newly elected Kadima Chairwoman Tizpi Livni, who heads the largest Knesset faction, will most likely be named by the president as the person to establish a new coalition.
"After consulting our faction members, headed by Avigdor Lieberman, we decided that the right thing to do would be to call early elections," said the faction chairman, Knesset Member Robert Ilatov.
"We don't see any people in the current coalition who are capable of forming a new and stable coalition," he added. "Any attempt to do so would be an attempt to escape the voter's decision. It's important to go to the people now."
Ilatov estimated that general elections would be held within three months and said that his faction would not join the coalition in its current state.
Peres with NU-NRP representatives (Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)
Representatives of the National Union-National Religious Party were next to arrive, headed by MK Benyamin Elon. Representatives of the National Union-National Religious Party were next to arrive, headed by MK Benyamin Elon.
MK Effie Eitam told Ynet, "In light of the challenges facing the State of Israel, we mustn't have a government comprised of one patch over another. We will aspire with all our power to early elections and won't join the current coalition under any circumstances."
MKs Chaim Oron and Zahava Gal-On of the Meretz faction said that they would recommend to Peres to task the newly elected Kadima chairwoman with forming the new government. MK Oron said as he entered the President's Residence," Tzipi Livni is the most suitable candidate to form a government at this time. However, we are not implying that we plan to join a future coalition led by her."
Members of the Pensioners Party also met with Peres on Monday and asked him to task Livni with forming the new government. The Pensioners Party, they stressed, will not join any coalition in which members of Justice for the Elderly party, who broke away from their party a few months back, would be members of.
Peres' round of talks is expected to end at 6:30 pm in a meeting with the United Torah Judaism faction representatives.
Labor representatives only want Barak
Peres is expected to name Livni as his candidate for forming a new government on Monday night, following recommendations submitted by the Kadima, Pensioners and Meretz factions.
On Sunday evening, the president met with Labor faction members, who recommended Defense Minister Ehud Barak as the most suitable person to form the next government, although he is not a Knesset member. According to the law, only an MK can serve as prime minister. Labor MK Eitan Cabel expressed his hope that the legal obstacle would be resolved.
Barak met with Livni on Sunday evening, and sources close to the Kadima chairwoman expressed their cautious optimism that progress could be made in the coalition talks with the Labor Party.
Likud representatives also arrived at the President's Residence on Sunday evening, and told Peres that Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu was the suitable candidate, while Shas members told the president that they would not recommend anyone.
Party officials explained that they decided to refrain from recommending a candidate as they have yet to receive answers from the newly elected Kadima chairwoman to their demands in regards to social issues.
The Knesset member tasked with the mission will be given 28 days, with a possible extension of 14 days. If this person fails, the president is authorized to order a different MK to form a coalition within an additional 28 days. Should the second MK fail to do so, the general elections will be moved up and will be held within 90 days.
