Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will fill the finance portfolio towards the end of the coalition negotiations between the Kadima and Labor parties, Kadima sources told “Globes”. In addition to Olmert’s preferred candidate for the post, Minister of Tourism Avraham Hirchson, other candidates are Minister of Transport Meir Sheetrit and MK Haim Ramon (Kadima).
Sheetrit’s candidacy is being promoted by a lobby that includes his wife, the owners of a PR firm. Sources close to Sheetrit claim that they are relying on comments by Olmert that Sheetrit has the advantage of a brief stint as Minister of Finance in the final days of the Netanyahu government in 1999.
Sources in Kadima claim, however, that Sheetrit has no explicit promise, because, promises have been made except to Tzipi Livni, who has been promised the foreign affairs portfolio and position of acting prime minister, and Prof. Uriel Reichman, who has been promised the Ministry of Education.
Hirchson has not received any promises either, but Olmert prefers him because of their longstanding personal and political ties, in addition to Hirchson’s skill when he chaired the Knesset Finance Committee and his personal charm.
“Globes” first reported on election day that Hirchson’s appointment to the Ministry of Finance was fact, and not merely rumor. Hirchson told “Globes” that his friendship with Olmert meant that he would be comfortable with any post to which Olmert appointed him.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on April 5, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006