Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday evening officially informed the Parliament Speaker that he has decided to empower new Kadima Chairperson Tzipi Livni to form a new government, local news service Ynet reported.
A ceremony is scheduled later in the night at the Presidential residence for the president to formally assign the Cabinet-making task to the third and the first woman leader of the three-year-old centrist party.
President Peres made the decision following consultations with leaders of all the 13 factions in Parliament.