Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's ruling Kadima party has approved a change to its charter, clearing the way for a party primary which would unseat the embattled leader, Kadima said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kadima adopted the modification after the central committee of the centrist party gathered 91 ayes out of its 180 members on Monday night, said the statement in Hebrew posted on the website of Kadima.
Local daily Ha'aretz reported that the primary will be held between Sept. 14 and 18.
Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is a leading candidate to replace Olmert, who faces increasing calls for resignation since the fifth probe against him went public in May over suspicions that he took illicit money from an American businessman.
Other front-runners include Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and Deputy Prime Minister and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Olmert himself has not publicly announced whether to run in the primary. Ha'aretz quoted sources close to him as saying that the prime minister does not intend to do so.
The probes-laden leader green lighted in June the party primary in a bid to save the ruling coalition after his major partner, the Labor party, threatened to support a bill to dissolve parliament.
On Monday, Israeli State Attorney Moshe Lador said a decision will be made soon on whether to indict Olmert over the latest investigation. The prime minister has said he would resign if indicted.
Source:Xinhua
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