Olmert to submit resignation Sunday evening
(Video) Prime minister to arrive at President's Residence at 7:30 pm to officially submit his resignation to Peres; his cabinet to turn into transit government. Ealier Sunday, he congratulates newly elected Kadima Chairwoman Livni on primaries' victory, says willing to help her form new coalition
VIDEO - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to arrive at the President's Residence at 7:30 pm Sunday in order to submit his resignation to President Shimon Peres. His government will then become a transit government until newly elected Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni forms a new coalition or decides to call elections.
President Peres will next consult with representatives of the different factions, who will recommend whom he should task with forming a new government – most likely Foreign Minister Livni.
Peres is not wasting any time, and will meet with Kadima faction representatives at 8:10 pm.
The Knesset member tasked with the mission will be given 28 days, with a possible extension of 14 days. If this person fails, the president is authorized to order a different MK to form a coalition within an additional 28 days. Should the second MK fail to do so, the general elections will be moved up and will be held within 90 days.
On Sunday morning, Olmert informed the cabinet that he would be stepping down, just 33 months after taking office.
He began Sunday's cabinet meeting by wishing Livni the best of luck, and pledging her his support. "I hope she can form a coalition soon and I will give her any support she needs in the process. I know how hard it is to do, as does (Defense Minister Ehud) Barak," he added.
He then went on to speak of the recent financial crisis to hit Wall Street, Israel's accomplishment in the Paralympics' Olympic Games, the death of former Chief of IDF Personnel Moshe Nativ and even Israel's national basketball team's victory over the Czech Republic in Saturday's game, before getting to the main event.
Livni and Olmert shake hands (Photo: Reuters)
"I hereby inform the ministers that I will be stepping down," he told the cabinet. "This was not an easy decision to make, but I think I'm doing the right thing, as I promised the Israeli public I would.
"I believe this government has done some very worthwhile things, the kind of things that will go down in the pages of history as ones which have made us all proud," he said.
ווידיאו:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3599669,00.html
תוקן על ידי לאנדסמאן ב- 21/09/2008 18:27:02
