An election for the leadership of Kadima was held on 17 September 2008 as a concession to Kadima's coalition partner, Labour, which had threatened to bring down the government if Prime MinisterEhud Olmert didn't stand aside following police investigations into alleged corruption during his terms as minister and as mayor of Jerusalem.
As Kadima remained the largest party in the Knesset and the coalition, Foreign MinisterTzipi Livni, the designated new leader after balloting, had the chance to form a government without a need for elections.[1]
The election was the party's first official leadership election.[2] Previously, in 2006, there had been a leadership vote, but it was for interim leader.[3][4]
On 28 July 2008 Livni announced that she would challenge Prime Minister Olmert for party leadership. Olmert was being politically dragged down by corruption investigations. Livni argued that the party had been misled under Olmert's leadership[5] On 30 July Olmert announced that he had against seeking reelection as party leader and prime minister.[6]
The two front-runners throughout the campaign consistently remained Mofaz and Livni, with Livni always holding a consistent lead in the polls.[7]
While both frontrunners supported a two-state solution,[8][9] Mofaz attacked Livni for wanting to divide Jerusalem in a final peace deal with the Palestinians,[10] and claimed that his military experience would make him a more qualified Prime Minister.[11][12] Livni and her supporters claimed that a vote for Mofaz is the same as a vote for the Likud due to Mofaz's hawkish and more right-wing positions.[citation needed] Livni also enjoyed a "clean" reputation, being seen as having honesty and integrity, and being free from corruption allegations.[13] Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remained neutral in the primary, but was alleged to privately favor Mofaz.[14]
Resultsedit
Exit polls released after the poll indicated a double-digit victory for Livni.[15] The actual vote count turned out much closer, amid very low turnout, with Shaul Mofaz coming within a few hundred votes of winning an unexpected victory over Livni.[16] Supporters of Mofaz called for a recount but Mofaz rejected any legal challenge of the declared result and called Livni to congratulate her on her victory, as did Sheetrit and Dichter.[17]
After Mofaz's loss, he announced that he would be taking a break from politics and leaving the government and Knesset. However, he would remain a member of Kadima.[18] Soon after, however, he rescinded his statement,[19][20] and went on to win the 2nd place in Kadima's Knesset list for the 2009 election.[21] In a rematch in 2012, he won the leadership,[22] and in the 2013 election led the party to a stunning collapse, winning 2 seats.[23]
After her election, Livni failed to form a governing coalition, having failed to reach an agreement with Shas. Subsequently Knesset elections were held on 10 February 2009.[24]
^Khalil, Ashraf; Sobelman, Batsheva (2008-09-18). "A new leader for Kadima". Los Angeles Times.
^Kershner, Isabel; Bowley, Graham (30 July 2008). "Olmert to resign after September vote". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^"Acting Israeli leader to head Sharon's party". The New York Times. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^"Kadima picks Olmert as interim chief". Al Jazeera. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
^Fisher-Ilan, Allyn (28 July 2008). "Livni says Kadima lost way under Olmert". Reuters. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^Kershner, Isabel (31 July 2008). "Olmert to Quit After Elections in September". The New York Times.
^"Mofaz, Barak gang up on Livni". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
^"2007 World Economic Forum session on the Middle East (Davos) Session summary". United Nations. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^"Political Statements on a Two-State Solution to Resolve the Arab (Palestinian)-Israeli Conflict, 1937–Present". CIE. 2021-11-28. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^"Mofaz accuses Livni of dividing J'lem". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^Kadmon, Sima (2008-08-06). "Shaul Mofaz: Full frontal". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^מועלם, מזל (2008-07-30). "מופז: "אסור לאולמרט וללבני להגיע להכרעה עם הרשות עד לפריימריז"". Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^. Time. 2008-06-12. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^"Olmert May Quit and Name Mofaz as PM To Weaken Livni". Israel National News. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^Tim Butcher (2008-09-17). . The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
^"Livni to lead Israel ruling party". BBC News. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
^Staff writer (2008-09-18). . The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
^Meranda, Amnon (2008-09-18). "Mofaz Says will Take Break from Politics". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
^הדר, ירון דרוקמן ושירי (2013-01-23). "אין עתיד בקדימה: המפלגה שאיבדה את מצביעיה". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-01.
^דרוקמן, ירון (2019-10-21). "כמו פרס ולבני: נתניהו הוא השלישי שמחזיר את המנדט". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2022-05-01.
External linksedit
Institute for Middle East Understanding
January 01, 1970
2008, kadima, leadership, election, election, leadership, kadima, held, september, 2008, concession, kadima, coalition, partner, labour, which, threatened, bring, down, government, prime, minister, ehud, olmert, didn, stand, aside, following, police, investiga. An election for the leadership of Kadima was held on 17 September 2008 as a concession to Kadima s coalition partner Labour which had threatened to bring down the government if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert didn t stand aside following police investigations into alleged corruption during his terms as minister and as mayor of Jerusalem 2008 Kadima leadership election 2006 interim 17 September 2008 2012 Turnout53 7 Candidate Tzipi Livni Shaul Mofaz Party Kadima Kadima Popular vote 16 936 16 505 Percentage 43 06 41 96 Candidate Meir Sheetrit Avi Dichter Party Kadima Kadima Popular vote 3 327 2 563 Percentage 8 46 6 52 Kadima leader before election Ehud Olmert Kadima leader Tzipi Livni As Kadima remained the largest party in the Knesset and the coalition Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni the designated new leader after balloting had the chance to form a government without a need for elections 1 The election was the party s first official leadership election 2 Previously in 2006 there had been a leadership vote but it was for interim leader 3 4 Contents 1 Candidates 2 Campaign 3 Results 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCandidates editTzipi Livni foreign minister of israel Avi Dichter Internal Security Minister Shaul Mofaz Transport Minister Meir Sheetrit Minister of the InteriorCampaign editOn 28 July 2008 Livni announced that she would challenge Prime Minister Olmert for party leadership Olmert was being politically dragged down by corruption investigations Livni argued that the party had been misled under Olmert s leadership 5 On 30 July Olmert announced that he had against seeking reelection as party leader and prime minister 6 The two front runners throughout the campaign consistently remained Mofaz and Livni with Livni always holding a consistent lead in the polls 7 While both frontrunners supported a two state solution 8 9 Mofaz attacked Livni for wanting to divide Jerusalem in a final peace deal with the Palestinians 10 and claimed that his military experience would make him a more qualified Prime Minister 11 12 Livni and her supporters claimed that a vote for Mofaz is the same as a vote for the Likud due to Mofaz s hawkish and more right wing positions citation needed Livni also enjoyed a clean reputation being seen as having honesty and integrity and being free from corruption allegations 13 Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remained neutral in the primary but was alleged to privately favor Mofaz 14 Results editExit polls released after the poll indicated a double digit victory for Livni 15 The actual vote count turned out much closer amid very low turnout with Shaul Mofaz coming within a few hundred votes of winning an unexpected victory over Livni 16 Supporters of Mofaz called for a recount but Mofaz rejected any legal challenge of the declared result and called Livni to congratulate her on her victory as did Sheetrit and Dichter 17 CandidateVotes Tzipi Livni16 93643 06Shaul Mofaz16 50541 96Meir Sheetrit3 3278 46Avi Dichter2 5636 52Total39 331100 00Source BBC News YnetAftermath editAfter Mofaz s loss he announced that he would be taking a break from politics and leaving the government and Knesset However he would remain a member of Kadima 18 Soon after however he rescinded his statement 19 20 and went on to win the 2nd place in Kadima s Knesset list for the 2009 election 21 In a rematch in 2012 he won the leadership 22 and in the 2013 election led the party to a stunning collapse winning 2 seats 23 After her election Livni failed to form a governing coalition having failed to reach an agreement with Shas Subsequently Knesset elections were held on 10 February 2009 24 See also edit2012 Kadima leadership election 2012 Likud leadership electionReferences edit Khalil Ashraf Sobelman Batsheva 2008 09 18 A new leader for Kadima Los Angeles Times Kershner Isabel Bowley Graham 30 July 2008 Olmert to resign after September vote The New York Times Retrieved 14 February 2022 Acting Israeli leader to head Sharon s party The New York Times 16 January 2006 Retrieved 14 February 2022 Kadima picks Olmert as interim chief Al Jazeera 16 January 2006 Retrieved 14 February 2022 Fisher Ilan Allyn 28 July 2008 Livni says Kadima lost way under Olmert Reuters Retrieved 7 November 2022 Kershner Isabel 31 July 2008 Olmert to Quit After Elections in September The New York Times Mofaz Barak gang up on Livni The Jerusalem Post JPost com Retrieved 2020 08 10 2007 World Economic Forum session on the Middle East Davos Session summary United Nations Retrieved 2022 05 01 Political Statements on a Two State Solution to Resolve the Arab Palestinian Israeli Conflict 1937 Present CIE 2021 11 28 Retrieved 2022 05 01 Mofaz accuses Livni of dividing J lem The Jerusalem Post JPost com Retrieved 2022 05 01 Kadmon Sima 2008 08 06 Shaul Mofaz Full frontal Ynetnews Retrieved 2022 05 01 מועלם מזל 2008 07 30 מופז אסור לאולמרט וללבני להגיע להכרעה עם הרשות עד לפריימריז Haaretz in Hebrew Retrieved 2022 05 01 Israel s Mrs Clean TIME Time 2008 06 12 Archived from the original on 2008 06 12 Retrieved 2022 05 01 Olmert May Quit and Name Mofaz as PM To Weaken Livni Israel National News Retrieved 2022 05 01 Tim Butcher 2008 09 17 Israel Tzipi Livni wins Kadima vote to become new PM The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on 2008 09 18 Retrieved 2008 09 17 Livni to lead Israel ruling party BBC News 2008 09 18 Retrieved 2008 09 18 Staff writer 2008 09 18 Mofaz activists We ll demand a recount The Jerusalem Post Archived from the original on 2011 09 17 Retrieved 2008 09 18 Meranda Amnon 2008 09 18 Mofaz Says will Take Break from Politics Ynetnews Retrieved 2008 09 18 חוזר לפוליטיקה מופז ישוב בקרוב מחופשתו וואלה חדשות וואלה in Hebrew 2008 09 23 Retrieved 2023 01 11 מופז חוזר למשחק Haaretz in Hebrew Retrieved 2023 01 11 בחירות 2009 פריימריז בקדימה מזכ ל העבודה איתן כבל כתמי הרשימה נמצאים על בגדי לבני Haaretz in Hebrew Retrieved 2023 01 11 אזולאי אטילה שומפלבי ומורן 2012 03 27 שאול מופז בנאום הניצחון ציפי מקומך איתנו Ynet in Hebrew Retrieved 2022 05 01 הדר ירון דרוקמן ושירי 2013 01 23 אין עתיד בקדימה המפלגה שאיבדה את מצביעיה Ynet in Hebrew Retrieved 2022 05 01 דרוקמן ירון 2019 10 21 כמו פרס ולבני נתניהו הוא השלישי שמחזיר את המנדט Ynet in Hebrew Retrieved 2022 05 01 External links editKadima Leadership Elections background results and the prospects for peace Institute for Middle East Understanding Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2008 Kadima leadership election amp oldid 1132969338, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
