Livni's major rival Mofaz accepts Kadima primary's result
18/9/2008 17:55
Shaul Mofaz's aides said that Mofaz, Livni's main rival and the
transportation minister, has accepted the Kadima primary's result, despite his
lawyers' advice to launch an appeal due to alleged irregularities, Army Radio
reported this morning.
Final results released by Israel's ruling Kadima party
early today showed that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won the party's
primary.
With all votes counted, Livni secured 16,936 votes, or 43.1 percent,
as compared with 16,505 votes, or 42 percent, that went to her main rival Mofaz.
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit won 6.5
percent and 8.5 percent respectively.
One of Mofaz's lawyers, Yehuda
Weinstein, complained about three issues: the extension of the voting time by 30
minutes, the disqualification of a Rahat ballot and the fact that media outlets
began publishing exit polls 15 minutes before the ballots closed.
However,
Mofaz telephoned Livni congratulating her on Kadima primary victory, and Livni
also said in a victory speech that she will put it all together with ministers
including Mofaz to create government stability.
Over half of the some 74,000
registered Kadima members voted in the party's first-ever primary yesterday. As
the top contender received over 40 percent, no second round would be
held.
Following the primary, Olmert is expected to resign from his
premiership, paving the way for his successor to form a new government. Should
the cabinet-making efforts succeed, Livni would become second Israeli woman
premier after Golda Meir.
Xinhua
|
