Knesset Member Eitan Cabal was elected secretary of the Labor Party Thursday, winning 58 percent of the vote and gaining a "protected" spot on the party's election list in next year's general election.
After being notified of his victory, Cabal said he grew up "on the lap" of the Labor Party, and said he never wanted to be "just another" lawmaker. He also expressed his faith that the party would reverse a 14-year trend and increase its Knesset representation in the next election.
"I would never have taken this job if I didn't believe we could present a real alternative (to the Likud). I (also) believe this party will return to power."
The Labor Party has lost power in the last four elections, falling from 44 seats 1992 to just 19 today.
Cabal's first order of business will be to oversee Labor Party primaries at the end of June, and promised the poll would be "clean". Both today's election and last months membership drive were tainted with charges of corruption.
