Israeli parliament rejects Sharon appointments
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today failed to win parliamentary approval for his nomination of new Cabinet ministers.
The blow reflects the deep divisions in the ruling Likud Party and hints that the country could be heading for early elections.
The 60-54 vote was an embarrassment to Sharon, but did not put his government in immediate jeopardy. Several Likud members voted against the nominations.
Disgruntled Likud hardliners, still angry over Sharon’s September pullout from the Gaza Strip, objected to his plan to promote loyalists in what they said was a political payoff.
Sharon had asked parliament to confirm acting Finance Minister Ehud Olmert to the treasury post, and appoint two other supporters to the trade and immigrant-absorption portfolios. He submitted the three nominations to a single vote in an “all or nothing” package.
Party rebels were prepared to approve Olmert’s nomination, but objected to the other appointments.
“There will be consequences,” Sharon said after the vote. He did not elaborate, and called an emergency meeting of Cabinet ministers to discuss how to proceed.
Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin said he would attempt to schedule a separate vote on the Olmert nomination later tonight, with the other two nominations to be voted on at a later date.
The failed package vote could signal difficulties for Sharon in an upcoming budget battle. Failure to pass the budget would cause the government to collapse and force new elections.
Sharon, whose term is set to expire in November 2006, has said he opposes early elections. But aides concede he may have no choice.
