Israel Matzav

Kadima may have to forfeit more portfolios than planned

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The leader of the largest party is traditionally asked first to try to form a ruling coalition. Olmert had already set up a team to handle coalition negotiations with the different parties. The party believes the coalition-building process may last a long time.

Transportation and Education Minister Meir Sheetrit expressed his opinion that it would be easy to reach a coalition agreement with the Labor Party or with the Gil pensioners' party, but predicted more difficulty in convincing the haredi parties to join the coalition.

Senior Kadima member Haim Ramon stated his expectation that the new government would be presented right after Passover, which starts this year on April 12. He announced that his party would gather a coalition of 70-80 MKs that would be able to execute the convergence plan, if negotiations with the Palestinians fail.

MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) told Israel Radio on Wednesday that it would not be possible to form a coalition without his party. Both he and Party Chairman Amir Peretz said Labor's main demands would center around socio-economic issues.

Ramon noted the possibility of making the Labor party a central party in the new coalition. According to Israel Radio, he insisted that socio-economic issues would not hamper negotiations.

Following the much smaller gap than expected between Kadima and Labor, the ruling party reportedly started considering the possibility of appointing at least two Labor MKs to senior ministries. The Labor Party should expect to have three fewer ministers than Kadima. Labor Chairman Amir Peretz, former chief of the Histadrut labor federation, said that his party would demand many of the domestic ministries affecting social welfare.

Sources close to Olmert expressed concern on Wednesday regarding the financial implications of including Labor, Shas, or Gil in the coalition. While the latter party's platform was not as known as the former two, Labor and Shas were both expected to demand increasing subsidies for Israel's weaker sectors. [In other words, both Labor and Shas would demand a rollback of Netanyahu's financial reforms. This would be an unmitigated disaster for the country. CiJ]

The unexpected elections outcome would probably leave many Kadima MKs disappointed, as they were promised many more ministerial positions than what they will probably receive under the new constellation. [Of course, they can always just create thirty ministries at the taxpayers' expense. We've seen that show before. CiJ] Olmert promised MK Shimon Peres a ministerial position overseeing development of the Negev and the Galilee, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was tentatively granted the position of deputy prime minister, as well as any ministry she choses. Also, former Interdisciplinary Center head Uriel Reichman was expected to be appointed to the Education Ministry.

Other Kadima MKs who expected to be ministers in the new government are former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter, Education and Transportation Minister Meir Shitreet, MK Haim Ramon, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra, National Infrastructures Minister Roni Bar-On, and Construction and Housing and Agriculture Minister Ze'ev Boim.

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Olmert's associates, however, have already said that as far as future coalitions were concerned, the Arab parties would not be invited. On the same note, it was not out of the question that Shas and/or United Torah Judaism could join a coalition with Kadima. Furthermore, Israel Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman said following his party's strong showing that, "We would consider all offers, but we will not abandon our principles." [And of course, since Kadima Achora has no principles, they don't want anyone else in the coalition who has any either. CiJ]

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:48 PM