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Union leader beats Shimon Peres in primary
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-10 13:50
A fiery union leader won a stunning victory over Shimon Peres in the
leadership contest for Israel's Labor Party, officials said Thursday, dealing a
blow to the elder statesman that could endanger the country's shaky governing
coalition.
Amir Peretz has promised to pull Labor out of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's
government, raising the likelihood of early elections. The defeat also could
spell the end of Peres' distinguished, six-decade political career. Peres had
been heavily favored to win.
Party secretary Eitan Cabel, announcing Peretz's victory, said the labor
leader captured over 42 percent of the vote, while Peres took just under 40
percent. A third candidate, former party head Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, got 17
percent.
The outcome will have deep implications for Sharon's shaky coalition.
Peres, a former prime minister who is now vice premier, wanted to keep Labor
in the government until elections scheduled in November 2006.
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Vice Premier
Shimon Peres arrives at a polling place in Tel Aviv, November 9, 2005.
[Reuters] | He led the party into the governing
coalition this year to shore up support for Sharon's plans to withdraw from the
Gaza Strip. The pullout divided Sharon's Likud Party and without Labor's
support, the plan could not have been carried out.
Peretz wants to steer the party back to its socialist roots, pull out of the
coalition and force early elections. His message resonated with Israelis
disenfranchised by government cuts in social spending and the country's growing
gap between rich and poor.
Sharon's Likud Party is deeply divided following the Gaza withdrawal in
September. Without Labor's support, he will struggle to keep his coalition
intact until the next election, raising the likelihood of early elections.
Opinion polls had forecast a resounding victory for Peres in Wednesday's
primary. But after two exit polls gave conflicting results, party activists
hunkered down for a long night.
Peres called a surprise news conference at 3:15 a.m. to say he suspected
fraud had occurred in the vote. Peres did not directly accuse Peretz of foul
play, but said reports of wrongdoing had to be checked.
"At this stage, we ask to check the complaints," he said. "We are turning to
the legal institutions of the party to look into this."
But party officials rejected the fraud claim, clearing the way for a Peretz
victory.
The defeat was a major embarrassment for Peres, who enjoyed double-digit
leads in opinion polls, and cemented his image as a perennial loser.
While Peres, a Nobel peace laureate, is widely revered abroad, he has had
trouble connecting with Israeli voters and failed in five previous elections for
prime minister.
Peres, 82, repeatedly has emerged from the political wilderness. But
political analyst Hanan Crystal said the defeat might mark the end of his
career.
"This could be his wake. What can he do after this?" Crystal said. He said
Peres' other options including becoming Peretz's deputy or splitting off from
the party.
Peres believed that remaining in the coalition would let him push forward
with peace efforts. Since the Gaza pullout, he has led negotiations with the
Palestinians to resolve key disputes, such as control over Gaza's borders, and
to help rebuild Gaza's shattered economy.
Peretz said that with the Gaza withdrawal complete, the party should pull out
of the government and focus on the economy. Labor has adopted more free-market
economic policies in recent years, drawing criticism from its traditional
supporters in the unions, working class and farming sectors.
"I think that there are a lot of people waiting for the moment that someone
will fight for their right to make a living with respect, to grow old with
respect," Peretz told Israel's Army Radio on Wednesday.
Peretz said that if he wins, he would either negotiate an early election with
Sharon or seek a parliamentary majority to topple the government.
Peretz also could face difficulties within the Labor Party. Pulling out of
the coalition will mean that eight senior members will have to step down from
coveted positions of government ministers.
Crystal said these party leaders are content with being the junior coalition
partner and in no hurry to head to elections. Sharon remains the country's most
popular politician and Labor leaders believe they are in no position to unseat
him, Crystal said.
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