Yuval Zellner Party, Zellner joined Kadima in 2005. Ranked 34th on Kadima's list for the 2009 elections, he failed to win a seat, but entered the Knesset on 3 May 2012 as a replacement for Tzipi Livni, who had resigned her seat after losing the party's leadership election to Shaul Mofaz. Placed sixth on the Kadima list for the 2013 elections, he lost his seat when the party was reduced to two MKs. However, he returned to the Knesset on 18 December 2014 following Yisrael Hasson's resignation and other resignations from the party list. The party did not contest the 2015 elections,
Tzipi Livni Olmert decided to step down, and asserted her confidence in her ability to defeat him in a party election should he decline. However, her call was ignored by Olmert and her decision to stay in the Cabinet sparked some controversy. In 2008, Livni condemned a photomontage of Pope Benedict XVI with a swastika displayed on his chest, which was published on a website run by supporters of her Kadima party. Facing multiple criminal investigations for corruption, Ehud Olmert announced his intention to resign his post as prime minister following a Kadima leadership election, which was held on 17 September 2008.