Livni: Coalition by Sunday or Snap Elections
Source: Al-Manar TV, 23-10-2008
‘Israeli' Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads the ruling Kadima party, on Thursday said she will call for snap elections if a government coalition agreement is not reached by Sunday.
"Decision time has come," she said in what was seen as an ultimatum to parties Kadima accuses of playing hardball in coalition negotiations.
"I have just spoken with the president to tell him I will meet him on Sunday to announce my decision: either we form a new government or we go to new elections," Livni told journalists following talks with members of the centrist Kadima.
'Israeli' President Shimon Peres had asked Livni on September 22 to form a new government after she was elected to succeed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as Kadima leader. Olmert resigned last month to battle a wave of graft allegations, and police have called for him to be indicted on corruption charges.
"I have considered it my duty to try to form a new government, particularly now, in order to favour stability, and I believe it is still what is preferable for the country," said Livni, 50. "I have had negotiations with all possible partners with a view to forming a stable government by suggesting to all partners the creation of a true partnership," she added.
Last week Kadima, which has 29 people in the 120-seat parliament, reached a draft coalition agreement with the Labor party, which has 19 MPs. But major differences emerged in negotiations with the religious Shas party, which has 12 deputies and has in the past played the role of kingmaker. The ultra-Orthodox party, a crucial member of Olmert's coalition, has demanded increased child subsidies and a promise not to negotiate over Jerusalem with the Palestinians. Talks with the Pensioners party, which has seven parliamentary seats, have also been more difficult than expected.
Kadima MP Tzahi Hanegbi, who has been leading the negotiations, said his party had gone as far as it could. "There is a limit to the haggling," he told ‘Israeli' public radio. "This is true for Shas, the Pensioners party and for the others who have failed to fully appreciate Tzipi Livni's determination," he said. "Enough of this bazaar," he added.
If it proves impossible to form a new government, snap general elections will be scheduled for 2009 and polls indicate they could bring the right-wing Likud party to power.
On Monday Livni was given an additional two weeks to form a government in her bid to become ‘Israel's' second woman prime minister, after Golda Meir who held office from 1969 to 1974.
‘Israeli' Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads the ruling Kadima party, on Thursday said she will call for snap elections if a government coalition agreement is not reached by Sunday.
"Decision time has come," she said in what was seen as an ultimatum to parties Kadima accuses of playing hardball in coalition negotiations.
"I have just spoken with the president to tell him I will meet him on Sunday to announce my decision: either we form a new government or we go to new elections," Livni told journalists following talks with members of the centrist Kadima.
'Israeli' President Shimon Peres had asked Livni on September 22 to form a new government after she was elected to succeed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as Kadima leader. Olmert resigned last month to battle a wave of graft allegations, and police have called for him to be indicted on corruption charges.
"I have considered it my duty to try to form a new government, particularly now, in order to favour stability, and I believe it is still what is preferable for the country," said Livni, 50. "I have had negotiations with all possible partners with a view to forming a stable government by suggesting to all partners the creation of a true partnership," she added.
Last week Kadima, which has 29 people in the 120-seat parliament, reached a draft coalition agreement with the Labor party, which has 19 MPs. But major differences emerged in negotiations with the religious Shas party, which has 12 deputies and has in the past played the role of kingmaker. The ultra-Orthodox party, a crucial member of Olmert's coalition, has demanded increased child subsidies and a promise not to negotiate over Jerusalem with the Palestinians. Talks with the Pensioners party, which has seven parliamentary seats, have also been more difficult than expected.
Kadima MP Tzahi Hanegbi, who has been leading the negotiations, said his party had gone as far as it could. "There is a limit to the haggling," he told ‘Israeli' public radio. "This is true for Shas, the Pensioners party and for the others who have failed to fully appreciate Tzipi Livni's determination," he said. "Enough of this bazaar," he added.
If it proves impossible to form a new government, snap general elections will be scheduled for 2009 and polls indicate they could bring the right-wing Likud party to power.
On Monday Livni was given an additional two weeks to form a government in her bid to become ‘Israel's' second woman prime minister, after Golda Meir who held office from 1969 to 1974.
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