Israeli president Shimon Peres today began a week-long process of consulting party leaders to decide whom he should ask to form a new government after an indecisive election.
Foreign minister Tzipi Livni, head of the centrist Kadima party, and right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu have each staked a claim to be prime minister since the February 10th vote.
Kadima won 28 seats in the 120-member parliament to 27 for Netanyahu's Likud party. Despite Ms Livni's edge, ex-premier Mr Netanyahu appears to command the largest bloc of support and has argued that returning him to top office would bring stability.
Ms Livni, Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinians, says she is most fit to keep US-sponsored peace talks on track and has offered to bring in Mr Netanyahu as a junior coalition partner.
"Tzipi Livni has a better chance of forming a unity government, which is what Israel needs at this time," finance minister Roni Bar-On of Kadima told reporters after meeting Mr Peres in the first round of consultations.
"A unity government means a government that stretches from the centre to the fringes, both to right and to the left. It cannot be formed by an extreme party."
A Likud delegation met Mr Peres next, and representatives of other parties were due to follow tomorrow and Friday.
Under Israeli law, Mr Peres names the candidate for premier.
"I feel faith and certainty that a blessed partnership will be created, with all those taking part in this democratic process mindful of the good of the nation," he said at a ceremony.
The law gives Mr Peres until February 25 to name the lawmaker who will become prime minister if he or she can build a ruling coalition. The candidate has 42 days to form a government and must then win parliament's approval.
Past presidents have mostly chosen the leader of the largest party. The electoral stalemate means Ms Livni and Mr Netanyahu may choose to forge a coalition, politicians in both their parties have said.
Ms Livni and her allies have said they would not join a government headed by Mr Netanyahu. Mr Netanyahu insists he should be prime minister and that he could form a government without Kadima.
Mr Peres' decision could depend on whom the largest far-right party, Yisrael Beitenu, with 15 seats, recommends as prime minister. That party has not said which candidate it will support and has been holding talks with both.
Left-wing and centrist lawmakers who could be Ms Livni's natural allies have won 55 seats and not all have vowed to support her.
Reuters