2011 Israeli Labor Party leadership election

2011 Israeli Labor Party leadership election

12–21 September 2011 (2011-09-12 – 2011-09-21)
vote by general membership of party
Candidate Shelly Yachimovich Amir Peretz First round 14,003 32.0% 13,566 31.0% Runoff 22,299 54.5% 18,769 45.5%   Candidate Isaac Herzog Amram Mitzna First round 10,940 25.0%' 5,251 12.0%
Leader before election Ehud Barak Elected Leader Shelly Yachimovich

Following the departure of Ehud Barak from the membership and leadership of the Israeli Labor Party, a leadership election was called.

Election rules

Leadership elections in the Israeli Labor Party happen in a two round vote, with the two leading candidates from the first round advancing into a run-off. If a candidate wins over 40% of the vote in the first round, he wins automatically and the second round is cancelled.

Candidates

4 Candidates ran for Labor leadership in this election:

• Shelly Yachimovich, Labor MK and former journalist.
• Amir Peretz, Labor MK, former party leader and current Minister of Defense.
• Isaac Herzog, Labor MK and former Minister of Welfare and Social Services
• Amram Mitzna, Labor MK, former party leader and former mayor of Haifa and Yeruham.

Results

Candidate		First round		Second round
		Votes	%	Votes	%
Turnout: 65%				61%
	Shelly YachimovichY	14,003	32%	22,299	54.5%
	Amir Peretz	13,566	31%	18,769	45.5%
	Isaac Herzog	10,940	25%
	Amram Mitzna	5,251	12%
	Total	43,760	N/A	41,068	N/A

Yachimovich was thus elected leader of the party, becoming the second female leader of the party since Golda Meir, who was elected leader of Mapai in 1969 and automatically became leader of the Labor Party upon the merger of Mapai with Rafi and Ahdut HaAvoda.