Olmert to seek Labour coalition - BBC News - April 4 2006

[Coastie for Truth]

Olmert to seek Labour coalition - BBC News - April 4 2006

Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he expects the centre-left Labour party to join his Kadima party in a coalition government.

Last Tuesday, Kadima won the most seats in parliamentary elections with 29. Labour came in second with 19 seats.

Speaking at a press conference with Labour's Amir Peretz, Mr Olmert said he wanted to form a government soon.

Kadima won the election on a promise to withdraw unilaterally from some parts of the West Bank.

Labour, which concentrated on social issues during its campaign, backs the disengagement plan.
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An included statistical table--

FINAL RESULTS (revised 3 April)
Winning party:
1. Kadima: 29 seats, centrist
Probable partner:
2. Labour: 19 seats, centre-left
Possible partners:
3. Shas: 12 seats, ultra-Orthodox
4. Pensioners: 7 seats, single-issue
5. Torah Judaism: 6 seats, ultra-Orthodox
6. Meretz: 5 seats, left-wing
Unlikely partners:
7. Israel Beitenu: 11 seats, Russian emigres, far-right
8. Likud: 12 seats, right-wing
9. Arab parties: 10 seats
10. National Union/Religious: 9 seats, far-right, settlers

Graphic From The Original Article:
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[savemefromdumbya]

1. Di they have Diebold in Israel too?

wonder how Kadima got all those seats?

[DemFromMem]

2. Actually, Kadima underperformed

They were polling at around 32 seats so this was a disappointment. I'm hoping they'll form a coalition with Labour, the Pensioners (that's the retirees party mostly focused on benefits for the elderly) and the left wing Meretz party. That would give them 59. Not a majority, but the Arab parties will likely go along with them on peace process issues as well as religious freedom issues so they can have an operating majority. The key will be to form a government without right wingers, religious parties and settlers.