Likud
Party leader Ariel Sharon defeated Labor Party candidate Ehud Barak in
the special election for prime minister. With 99.9% of the votes
counted, Sharon had 62.5% of the vote and Ehud Barak 37.5%. The
Israeli Central Election Committee will announce the official results
February 13.
Within 45 days of the publication of the election results, the
prime minister-elect will present the list of ministers and basic
policy guidelines before the Knesset.
Incumbent Ehud Barak announced that with the establishment of the new
government he will resign as Labor
Party head and from the Knesset. Barak will remain prime minister
in a caretaker role until Sharon assumes office.