Much-discussed candidate Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres met with former Shas party leader Aryeh Deri this week, in an effort to influence the position of the Sephardic religious party in the presidential race. The veteran Labor party chairman, who switched to Kadima last year, was considered a shoo-in for president five years ago, but President Moshe Katzav won Shas party support at the last minute.
Shas Knesset members are divided, with several supporting former Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin of the Likud for the honor.
Rivlin, for his part, met with leaders of the Pensioners party Knesset faction on Monday, seeking their electoral support. Earlier on Monday, Pensioners party officials met with Minister Peres, but according to reports, they did not discuss Peres's aspirations towards the presidency.
Also on Monday, during a meeting with Colette Avital, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Labor party Knesset member that he would support her presidential bid under certain conditions. If elected, the former New York City consul general would be Israel's first female president.
In earlier statements to the press, Prime Minister Olmert said that, in principle, he would prefer a president unaffiliated with a political party. The only such candidate currently in the headlines is Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel and currently Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi. However, in a surprise statement last week, Olmert suggested Nobel Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel for the presidential role. Last week, Rabbi Lau commented that running for president "is not on my daily agenda."
Among candidates for president whose names have been put forward, but who have not made any public comments regarding the possibility of running, are former ministers Amnon Rubenstein and Natan Sharansky.
The term of office of incumbent President Katzav expires next year, but he may step down as early as three weeks from now, when Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is expected to determine if there is enough evidence to indict Katzav on charges of sexual assault, illegal wiretapping and improper granting of pardons. The legislature would hold elections for the position 45 days later.
An initiative put forward this week by MKs Yoel Hasson (Kadima) and Yoram Marciano (Labor) would see the Knesset hold an open-ballot vote for president. Currently, the vote of the parliamentary representatives in the presidential election is secret and anonymous. Prime Minister Olmert expressed support for an open ballot.
Shas Knesset members are divided, with several supporting former Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin of the Likud for the honor.
Rivlin, for his part, met with leaders of the Pensioners party Knesset faction on Monday, seeking their electoral support. Earlier on Monday, Pensioners party officials met with Minister Peres, but according to reports, they did not discuss Peres's aspirations towards the presidency.
Also on Monday, during a meeting with Colette Avital, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Labor party Knesset member that he would support her presidential bid under certain conditions. If elected, the former New York City consul general would be Israel's first female president.
In earlier statements to the press, Prime Minister Olmert said that, in principle, he would prefer a president unaffiliated with a political party. The only such candidate currently in the headlines is Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel and currently Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi. However, in a surprise statement last week, Olmert suggested Nobel Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel for the presidential role. Last week, Rabbi Lau commented that running for president "is not on my daily agenda."
Among candidates for president whose names have been put forward, but who have not made any public comments regarding the possibility of running, are former ministers Amnon Rubenstein and Natan Sharansky.
The term of office of incumbent President Katzav expires next year, but he may step down as early as three weeks from now, when Attorney General Menachem Mazuz is expected to determine if there is enough evidence to indict Katzav on charges of sexual assault, illegal wiretapping and improper granting of pardons. The legislature would hold elections for the position 45 days later.
An initiative put forward this week by MKs Yoel Hasson (Kadima) and Yoram Marciano (Labor) would see the Knesset hold an open-ballot vote for president. Currently, the vote of the parliamentary representatives in the presidential election is secret and anonymous. Prime Minister Olmert expressed support for an open ballot.