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 Livni and Shaul Mofaz emerged as the main rivals for the leadership. Livni won the Kadima leadership election by a margin of just 431 votes (1%). Palestinian peace negotiators were reportedly pleased with the result. As the new leader of the ruling party, Livni became prime-minister designate. Upon declaring victory, she stated "the national responsibility (bestowed) by the public brings me to approach this job with great reverence." On 21 September 2008, Olmert formally resigned in a letter submitted to president Shimon Peres, and the following day Peres formally asked Livni to form a new government. Livni faced tough negotiations