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Israel poised for coalition talks Livni invited to form government
(about 9 hours later)
Israel's president is expected to ask Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to form a new government on Monday. Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has accepted an invitation from the president to form a new government.
This follows the resignation on Sunday of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who faces facing growing pressure over multiple corruption inquiries. The request followed the resignation on Sunday of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who faces several corruption inquiries.
Ms Livni quickly urged Likud party leader Binyamin Netanyahu to join a national unity cabinet - a call the Likud leader has rejected before.
Ms Livni last week replaced Mr Olmert as leader of Kadima, the largest party in the Israeli Knesset.Ms Livni last week replaced Mr Olmert as leader of Kadima, the largest party in the Israeli Knesset.
President Shimon Peres is holding consultations with a number of political party leaders. She now has 42 days to form a coalition.
Essentially, he is inviting opinions on who the party leaders want to see as prime minister or whether they are seeking early elections. President Shimon Peres had been holding consultations with a number of parties on Monday.
He had been inviting opinions on who the leaders wanted to see as prime minister or whether they were seeking early elections.
Coalition deadlineCoalition deadline
If, as expected, Ms Livini is invited to try to form a government, she will have 42 days to build a coalition. If she is successful, she should be able to govern until elections in 2010. ISRAELI KNESSET SEATS Current coalition (67 seats): Kadima: 29Labour: 19Shas: 12Pensioners party: 7 Other parties: Likud: 12Yisrael Beitenu: 11National Union-National Religious Party: 9United Torah Judaisim: 6Meretz:Arab parties: 10 Coalition needs 61 for majority class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7613137.stm">Q&A: Israeli leadership change If Ms Livni, a former Mossad spy, is successful in building an administration, she should be able to govern until elections in 2010.
If she fails to do so, an early election is likely to be called. ISRAELI KNESSET SEATS Current coalition (67 seats): Kadima: 29Labour: 19Shas: 12Pensioners party: 7 Other parties: Likud: 12Yisrael Beitenu: 11National Union-National Religious Party: 9United Torah Judaism: 6Meretz: 5Arab parties: 10 Coalition needs 61 for majority class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7621536.stm">Tzipi Livni: Israel's 'Ms Clean' class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7613137.stm">Q&A: Israeli leadership change
She has already started talks with parliamentary factions that could be included in a future coalition. But she said that if she failed to do so, she would call an early election.
Mr Olmert is likely to remain as caretaker prime minister while Ms Livni tries to form a new government. Mr Olmert is likely to remain as caretaker prime minister while Ms Livni, 50, tries to form the new government.
He denies any wrongdoing, but police have recommended he be indicted over two of the inquiries - allegations that he misused cash payments from a US businessman, and accusations that he double-billed government agencies for trips abroad.He denies any wrongdoing, but police have recommended he be indicted over two of the inquiries - allegations that he misused cash payments from a US businessman, and accusations that he double-billed government agencies for trips abroad.
Ms Livni needs to build a coalition representing 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament.Ms Livni needs to build a coalition representing 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament.
Ms Livni met Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who is head of Labour Party, the second largest parliamentary bloc, to negotiate a possible partnership.Ms Livni met Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who is head of Labour Party, the second largest parliamentary bloc, to negotiate a possible partnership.
Several right-of-centre parties have called for early elections, arguing that any coalition formed by Ms Livni would not offer stable government.Several right-of-centre parties have called for early elections, arguing that any coalition formed by Ms Livni would not offer stable government.
Opinion polls suggest that the Likud party led by Binyamin Netanyahu would benefit from an early poll. Opinion polls suggest that Likud would benefit from an early poll.