The Labor Party, battered and in disarray after its defeat in the May 17 elections, moved today to reorganize and tighten ship in order to become an effective opposition faction in the next Knesset. The party’s organizing committee decided that from now on the party will have a chairman rather than a secretary general. It nominated Defense Minister Shimon Peres, leader of the party, for that post.
The decision was motivated in part by the resignation of secretary general Meir Zarmi on the eve of the elections. The party chairman will head an administrative team to deal with day-today party matters. It will not include Knesset members but will be composed of persons with strong administrative abilities.
In addition, the organizing committee decided to establish a body of 13-15 members, including Labor Alignment MKs, to deal with political matters. The new body will constitute the party’s leadership and it too will be headed by Peres. The changes recommended are subject to approval by the Labor Party Executive and its Central Committee.
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