Livni's Party Wins, but Netanyahu May Be Next PM

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 10, 2009 2:58 PM CST

(Newser) – This much is clear: Exit polls show that Tzipi Livni's Kadima Party has narrowly defeated Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party, the Jerusalem Post reports. So who will be the next prime minister? Not so clear. In fact, both candidates are claiming the mantle. Israel's election rules say the party with the best chance of forming a ruling coalition—not necessarily the overall winner—gets the post. Given the surge of the right-wing Israel Beiteinu party, Netanyahu has the edge, the Post notes.

Polls have the centrist Kadima winning 30 seats, ahead of Likud (28), Yisrael Beiteinu (14), and Labor (13). Some polls vary in the numbers, but not the order of finish. When the results are final, President Shimon Peres will meet with party leaders, and he has the authority to give the prime minister's post to the candidate with the best chance of forming a government.

Israel's Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu waves to supporters as he visits a shopping mall in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Surrounded by security, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman visits the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Tuesday Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

Israeli Foreign Minister and Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni, laughs while waiting to cast her ballot in Tel Aviv, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Moti Milrod)

Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu talks to reporters at the Likud headquarters in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

Guest

Feb 11, 2009 6:08 AM CST

Totally agree. Of course it could have been worse.

Newser001

Feb 10, 2009 5:20 AM CST

The right-wing has gained substantial seats, making the creation / maintaining a coalition government difficult, thus hindering the peace processes momentum, progress. Avigdor Lieberman's far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party goals are bent on removing all Israeli-Arab political representation, removing all Israeli-Arab population from Israel; approximately 20% of Israel's total population, 50% of which living below the poverty line - thus, feeding discontent. Its going to be a difficult period for rational voices to be heard...

Guest

Feb 10, 2009 3:10 AM CST

I don't see a good path to a majority coalition for Livni. Unless she can get some support from Shas, it's going to be hard.

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Livni's Party Wins, but Netanyahu May Be Next PM

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Israel • Tzipi Livni • Ehud Barak • Benjamin Netanyahu • Kadima • Likud • Israeli election • Yisrael Beiteinu

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US Fears Israel Will Hit Iran Without Warning

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