By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Shaul Mofaz’s aides said that Mofaz, Livni’s main rival and the transportation minister, has accepted the Kadima primary’s result, despite his lawyers’ advice to launch an appeal due to alleged irregularities, Army Radio reported on Thursday morning.
Final results released by Israel’s ruling Kadima party early Thursday showed that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won the party’s primary.
With all votes counted, Livni secured 16,936 votes, or 43.1 percent, as compared with 16,505 votes, or 42 percent, that went to her main rival Mofaz. Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit won 6.5 percent and 8.5 percent respectively.
One of Mofaz’s lawyers, Yehuda Weinstein, complained about three issues: the extension of the voting time by 30 minutes, the disqualification of a Rahat ballot and the fact that media outletsbegan publishing exit polls 15 minutes before the ballots closed.
However, Mofaz telephoned Livni congratulating her on Kadima primary victory, and Livni also said in a victory speech that she will put it all together with ministers including Mofaz to create government stability.
Over half of the some 74,000 registered Kadima members voted inthe party’s first-ever primary Wednesday. As the top contender received over 40 percent, no second round would be held.
Following the primary, Olmert is expected to resign from his premiership, paving the way for his successor to form a new government. Should the cabinet-making efforts succeed, Livni would become second Israeli woman premier after Golda Meir.