The battle for the position of state comptroller is finally over: After three rounds of voting, the massive 94 Knesset member coalition finally managed to select a comptroller – Judge Yosef Shapira will take on the role of state comptroller after receiving 68 votes while, Judge Eliezer Rivlin received 40.
Shapira received 58 votes in the first round, two votes short of a win. Rivlin received 45 votes. In the second round Shapira received 59 votes – since the minimum number of votes is 60, voting went into a third round.
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The selection process was accompanied by a great deal of commentary from politicians who were trying to promote their favored candidate. Earlier on Monday MK Eitan Cabel (Labor), who supported Judge Rivlin, told Ynet regional radio that the selection of Judge Shapira to the role was guaranteed in spite of the secret ballot.
PM Netanahu casts vote for comptroller (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
- According to Cabel "the source of the behind the scenes stirring in support of Judge Yosef Shapira's candidacy was the Prime Minister's bureau.
"The fact that the prime minister met with the candidate goes against my world view. The prime minister's role is to be the first one up for review in the comptroller's office. The bureau prepared Shapira in advance to be an outstanding comptroller."
Shapira, 67, serves a Jerusalem District Court Judge. He also served as a judge with the rank of colonel in the military court system.