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Olmert offers formal resignation | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has submitted his resignation letter to the country's President, Shimon Peres. | |
Mr Olmert may remain as interim prime minister for several weeks while his successor as leader of the Kadima Party tries to form a new government. | |
He is to be replaced by Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who has six weeks to gather a fresh coalition. | |
Mr Olmert announced he would step down in July after facing growing pressure over multiple corruption inquiries. | Mr Olmert announced he would step down in July after facing growing pressure over multiple corruption inquiries. |
The BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem says that forming a coalition will not be an easy task as Kadima does not have a majority in the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset. | |
The same parties, particularly religious parties from the right, who joined the Olmert government will not necessarily support Ms Livni, our correspondent says. | |
It is a complicated process that may end in general elections at the start of next year, until when Ehud Olmert may remain as prime minister, our correspondent adds. | |
Corruption investigations | Corruption investigations |
Ms Livni, who is regarded as a moderate, won the leadership of the governing Kadima party on Thursday, beating Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by just 431 votes, or 1.1%. | Ms Livni, who is regarded as a moderate, won the leadership of the governing Kadima party on Thursday, beating Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by just 431 votes, or 1.1%. |
According to the president's office, Ms Livni will have up to 42 days to attempt to form a coalition representing at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats from Israel's mosaic of political parties. | According to the president's office, Ms Livni will have up to 42 days to attempt to form a coalition representing at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats from Israel's mosaic of political parties. |
If she fails, the president may give another member of the Knesset up to 42 days to try to form a government. | If she fails, the president may give another member of the Knesset up to 42 days to try to form a government. |
If still no government is formed, the president may mandate yet another member to try, or call elections, which must then take place within 90 days. | If still no government is formed, the president may mandate yet another member to try, or call elections, which must then take place within 90 days. |
Mr Olmert has faced growing pressure over multiple corruption investigations during his less than three years in office. He denies any wrongdoing in all cases. | |
Police have recommended he be indicted over two of the probes - allegations that he misused cash payments from a US businessman, and accusations that he double-billed government agencies for trips abroad. | Police have recommended he be indicted over two of the probes - allegations that he misused cash payments from a US businessman, and accusations that he double-billed government agencies for trips abroad. |