JERUSALEM: Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Wednesday said the primary elections for her Kadima party will be brought forward to March as speculation mounts over an early general election.
"Kadima primaries will take place on Tuesday, March 27, 2012," Livni told a news conference.
"On that day, Kadima voters will re-elect their chairwoman, and in the evening, Israeli citizens will know who is the candidate of the Zionist majority in Israel for prime minister," she said.
The centre-right Kadima is currently the largest party in parliament, holding 28 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, but a series of recent polls suggest the faction is likely to see that number halved in the next elections.
According to the party regulations, leadership primaries are to take place three months before general elections, which are currently scheduled for October 2013.
But there has been a flurry of speculation about whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will move the vote up in a bid to capitalise on his current popularity.
Livni faces fierce competition from former defence minister Shaul Mofaz, who currently heads the powerful parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and defence.
"Today, Livni has ended her role as Kadima chairwoman," Mofaz said in a statement.
"Kadima suffered serious damages from her weak, weary and indecisive conduct. Today, the journey to replace Netanyahu's government has begun."
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