The Herut party announced today that its Central Committee will meet on April 12 to decide who will lead the Likud coalition in the July 23 national elections. The betting is on Premier Yitzhak Shamir, but an internal struggle for the top spot on the party’s election list appears unavoidable.
Deputy Premier David Levy, who met privately with Shamir yesterday, reportedly promised him to announce by tonight whether he intends to challenge Shamir for a second time. Levy contested Shamir’s leadership of Herut following the resignation of Premier Menachem Begin last August but was decisively defeated by the Central Committee which gave Shamir a 60-40 percent vote of confidence.
Whatever Levy’s decision, a battle for succession appears almost certain. Former Defense Minister Ariel Sharon has announced publicly that he intends to compete against Shamir to be the next Prime Minister in the event of a Likud victory at the polls. Herut is the largest component of Likud where it is in alignment with the Liberal Party and several smaller factions.
LEVY GIVEN LITTLE CHANCE TO WIN OVER SHAMIR
Political observers give Levy little chance to overcome Shamir when the 1,000-plus members of the Central Committee convene. But the Sharon factor could complicate the situation. Sharon, presently a Minister-Without-Portfolio, is expected to erode Shamir’s base more than Levy’s, thereby narrowing the gap between them.
Sharon is believed to be quite aware that he stands no chance of being elected leader of Herut. He has made it clear however that by challenging Shamir he hopes to strengthen his standing in the party which would re-enforce his demand for a key Cabinet post in a new Likud government.
Some pundits say the same calculations may motivate Levy. He has been pressing Shamir in vain for the past six months to name him Foreign Minister, the portfolio Shamir retained when he became Prime Minister. If Levy makes a good showing in the Central Committee, Shamir could no longer turn him down, the pundits say.
This conjecture has raised speculation in some quarters that Shamir will attempt to head off a challenge from Levy by promising to name him Foreign Minister. But sources close to the Premier deny that any such deal is in the offing.
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