Meretz 'optimistic' after coalition talks with Livni

After Labor and before the ultra-Orthodox parties – is Meretz headed for the coalition?

Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni sat down with Meretz Chairman Chaim Oron for a private two-hour meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the possibility of bringing the latter's left-wing party into a government under Livni, the prime minister designate and minister of foreign affairs.

MK Oron described the meeting as positive, and the two have arranged for their respective party negotiators to meet on Thursday morning that the Foreign Affairs Ministry offices in Tel Aviv for talks.

Oron said Livni appears interested in having Meretz join Labor in her fledgling coalition. The private meeting between the two touched on the issues Meretz has conditioned its loyalty on. "The meeting went well and I'd say I'm optimistic. There's a mutual interest to have Meretz in the government," said Oron.

Livni greeting guests at her sukkah (Photo: Eli Uzi)

In September Meretz said it "would not sit in a coalition that would just be playing for time. We'd demand the advancement of a peace process with Syria and the Palestinians; for (the coalition) to address the economic crisis, which could be grave, in accordance with our outlook; and a comprehensive change on the previous government's policies in regards to law enforcement and the attempts against the judicial branch."

Kadima has thus far signed a coalition agreement only with Labor, which has 19 MKs. Kadima itself has 29. Livni must now bring in an additional 13 MKs to form a steady government – however Meretz would bring with it only five MKs.

Livni will run out of the initial 28 days allotted to her to form a government early next week. President Shimon Peres tasked her to do so on September 22nd, after she narrowly defeated Minister Shaul Mofaz to succeed resigning Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Livni is also pursuing ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism. She initially sought to meet with Shas Chairman Eli Yishai later Wednesday night, but the latter was forced to cancel while already en

route to her home due to personal reasons. The main point of contention for Shas remains the issue of increasing welfare stipends for children.

Kadima negotiators, who sat with members of United Torah Judaism in Jerusalem earlier on Wednesday for a three-hour meeting, said they believed an agreement could be signed with UTJ even before Shas. Kadima and UTJ representatives are scheduled to meet again over the coming days.