Tzipi Livni, the presumptive Prime Minister of Israel
Tzipi Livni, Israel’s Foreign Minister and Prime Minister in-waiting, called a snap election on Sunday after failing to build a coalition of parties in Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, large enough to form a workable government. Ms. Livni’s party, the centrist Kadima, had garnered the support of the centre-left Labor Party (controlled by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak) and the left-wing Meretz, but could not get the support of the ultra-orthodox Sha’as Party.
Sha’as party leaders forced the election by failing to support the conditions upon which Kadima offered their party to join a potential government.
Ms. Livni informed Israel’s President that she was unable to form a workable government and asked that the Knesset be dissolved and elections be scheduled to take place in 90 days. The President complied with the Prime Minister’s request, as is customary in most Parliamentary Republics.
The logo of the centrist Kadima Party, which Ms. Livni heads.
Originally Kadima (Ms. Livni’s party), anticipated losing ground to the right-wing Likud Party (led by yet another former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu) if an election were called. But two polls released on Monday indicated that Ms. Livni’s party would gain a very narrow victory over Likud, with Labor polling last amont the three major parties.
Sha’as may regret having forced the election by not accepting Kadima’s government offer as both polls indicated that they will lose seats in the election.
