Internal Kadima Disputes Regarding Primaries

Hillel Fendel

The unanswered questions after Barak forced Kadima to hold primaries to replace Olmert are now matters of dispute between Olmert and Livni. The primaries for Kadima Party leadership are scheduled for two months from now, but no one seems to know what they will actually decide. They were called under pressure from Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak, who, as head of Kadima's largest coalition partner, threatened to bring down the government if Olmert was not replaced at the helm. Barak made this threat a day after Moshe Talansky testified that he had given Olmert envelopes containing at least $150,000 in cash.

Nearly a month later, Olmert and Barak reached a compromise, according to which primaries for Kadima Party leader would be held in September.

Unanswered questions at the time included: When will Olmert actually step down from office? By what legal mechanism will the change be effected - assuming Olmert loses? What happens if Olmert wins?

It has now developed that these and other questions are precisely matters of dispute between Olmert and his top competitor, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. This became clear at a confrontational meeting yesterday (Tuesday) involving the Kadima MKs on the topic of the primaries.

This was Kadima's second meeting on the topic, but the first one in which Prime Minister Olmert participated. Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter have also announced their interest in running for party leader. Olmert has not said definitely whether he will run or not.

When Will Olmert Step Down?
Aside from the procedural matters in dispute (see below), a major question mark in the public eye is what will happen the day after the primaries. "If Olmert loses in the primaries," Arutz-7 asked Kadima spokesman Shmulik Dahan, "how and when does his replacement take office?" Dahan said that this will apparently be decided in the Thursday meeting.

Arutz-7 also contacted the office of Meir Nitzan, Mayor of Rishon LeTzion and Chairman of Kadima's Thursday session, on this question. An answer was promised, but was not received by the time this article went to press.

Issues in Dispute
Livni's supporters, fearful of stalling on Olmert's part, say that when the party council convenes on Thursday to make decisions on the primaries, this must be the final such meeting before the actual primaries. Olmert responded, "What are you afraid of? We have an agreement with Labor to hold primaries, and they will be held by September."

For how long will the results of the primaries be in force? Livni says this must be the final vote before the next general election, in order that the chosen leader will be the party's candidate for Prime Minister when elections are next held. Olmert disagrees: "If elections are held three months after our primaries, that's one thing. But if they're held two and a half years later, that's something entirely different."

Another point of contention is whether the primaries will be held for party leader alone, or also for his deputy. Livni, currently in the #2 spot, says the vote should be only for party leader, while Olmert says a new deputy must also be chosen. It is feared that Olmert wishes to thus hold on to office until (and if) he is actually indicted.

Furthermore, who will approve what? The Livni camp says the party's Knesset faction is sufficient to approve the primaries-related changes in the party regulations, while Olmert says the entire party council must approve them.