Mon, September 22, 2008
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who faces criminal indictment in corruption probes, has told his cabinet that he was stepping down "in accordance with good governance" and that history would judge the achievements of his administration. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni succeeded Olmert as leader of the centrist Kadima party in an internal election on Wednesday, but analysts say she has a tough battle ahead to become Israel's first woman prime minister since Golda Meir.
SCRIPT:
Ehud Olmert had promised to step down as Israel's Prime Minister once a new Kadima party chief was chosen.
Flanked by the woman who succeeds him, foreign minister Tzipi Livni, Olmert announced his resignation to cabinet colleagues.
(SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT SAYING:
"At the start of the government meeting I will inform you of my decision to resign from my role as the prime minister of Israel. I must say this is not an easy nor simple decision and it's not being made without personal costs."
Shaking Livni's hand, Olmert wished his successor well and called on the country to support her.
But the 50-year-old lawyer's chances of becoming only the second woman Israeli leader since Golda Meir are far from certain.
Once Olmert's resignation is formally accepted by the President, Shimon Peres, Livni will have 42-days to try to form a government.
Failure to build a coalition would lead to snap parliamentary elections.
In the meantime, Olmert, who faces criminal indictment in corruption probes, will stay on as caretaker prime minister.
Political commentators suggest Livni faces an uphill battle to become Israel's next leader.
There's wide speculation that Kadima's main coalition partners are plotting to force a general election, which opinion polls predict would be won by the right-wing Likud leader, Benjamin Netanyahu.
(Source: Reuters)
