Tzipi Livni, chair of the Kadima party, announced that the Kadima primaries will be moved up. Elections for the new party chair will be held at the end of the Knesset’s winter session, on March 27.
The decision’s timing is said to be connected to Yair Lapid and Noam Shalit’s recent decision to enter politics.
Livni said she will seek re-election. “These primaries will decide not only who will serve as the next Kadima chairman but whether [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu will remain prime minister, and that depends on the selection of the Kadima chairperson,” she told reporters.
“Israel’s citizens cannot afford to leave Netanyahu’s extremist government in power,” Livni said.
Livni will be facing Knesset member Shaul Mofaz, who has a growing support base within the party, and is reportedly already campaigning for the position. MKs Avi Dichter and Meir Sheetrit have also announced that they will seek the party’s chairmanship. — ynetnews.com