Kadima sets primaries for mid-September
Prime Minister Olmert's party votes to hold leadership election in under three months, though some say he may not have to step down from office even if overthrown. Prime contender Livni welcomes decision, says party will be voting for country's next prime minister. 'And may the best woman win,' she says
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's centrist Kadima Party approved a motion on Thursday to hold a leadership election in mid-September that could lead to his ouster. It recommended that the vote be held between September 14 and 17.
"Kadima is taking a new path," said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a leading contender to succeed Olmert as head of the party. "Despite the mess – this is a good day for Kadima, because Kadima is going back to what it was, and returning Israel to what it was," she said.
"It is choosing a new leader who will be prime minister. And may the best woman win," Livni said.
Only several dozen members of Kadima's council bothered to come to the meeting. By a quick show of hands at the party's main headquarters in Tel Aviv, the party's decision-making council of lawmakers and activists ratified Olmert's pledge last month to the Labor Party to hold a party primary within three months.
The council also rejected a motion by Professor Uriel Reichman, who proposed an amendment to the party's policies that would require Olmert to resign once a new chairman is elected. Reichman slammed the decision, saying it showed the party was not truly democratic.
While it wasn't certain the decision would actually topple Olmert, and some mused over whether he would actually have to quit as prime minister even if he lost in Kadima, Olmert's main party rivals sounded a note of triumph.
Shlomo Mula, a party lawmaker who supports Livni, said he hoped a leadership contest would restore public faith in a party and government largely paralyzed recently by the probes against Olmert.
"Under the existing circumstances he (Olmert) cannot continue to serve as prime minister. The problems of a single person shouldn't be permitted to hurt an entire party," Mula said.
Israeli police plan to go to Olmert's home on Friday to ask him further questions about a case involving American financier Morris Talansky, who told Israeli investigators in May he had given $150,00 to Olmert over a 15-year period.
Olmert has said he accepted some money but that it was used legitimately to fund election campaigns.
Reuters contributed to this report
