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Lupolianski. Running again
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Lupolianski back in mayoral race?

Jerusalem mayor's associates say haredi candidate Porush has no chance to defeat businessman Barkat. If former Shas Chairman Deri is disqualified from running, they add, Lupolianski may present his candidacy

While former Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri seems determined to run for Jerusalem mayor despite the criminal offenses he committed which carry legal moral turpitude, and while Knesset Member Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) is launching his own campaign, the ultra-Orthodox sector is split and agitated over the Jerusalem mayoral race.

 

Meanwhile, current Mayor Uri Lupolianski is still fantasizing about a second tenure. A series of haredi political advisors who have visited his office say that such a scenario is not groundless.

 

"If Porush quits the race, it's quite possible that Lupolianski will be called in," an aide to the mayor told Ynet on Thursday evening.

 

Ahead of the 2003 mayoral race, the Lithuanian Degel Hatorah and Hasidic Agudath Israel factions united and formed one election list called United Torah Judaism. As part of the unification, the factions signed a rotation agreement, stating that Agudath Israel would support Degel Hatorah representative Uri Lupolianski for mayor, while in the next elections the Lithuanians would support Agudath Israel's candidate.

 

Ahead of the current elections, Agudath Israel selected its own candidate – MK Porush. Despite the fact that the current mayor was not thrilled to evacuate his seat, Lupolianski stated that he is a man who "honors agreements" and said he plans to retire at the end of his tenure and return to his life's work, the Yad Sarah voluntary organization.

 

But then came the public opinion polls published over the past few weeks, showing that secular candidate Nir Barkat would easily defeat Porush. According to the polls, Barkat would also beat Lupolianski, but by a much smaller gap.

 

Porush's situation is problematic. Among the haredi public, he is in a conflict with Lithuanian rabbis following an election campaign held in the settlement of Beitar Illit last year, when he disobeyed his patron. His situation among the secular public is also difficult, as he is considered much more radical than Lupolianski.

 

Lupolianski issues press release to haredim

Meanwhile, Lupolianski is sitting quietly in his office and planning his comeback. He attempts to endear himself to the haredim by issuing press releases, stressing what he has done for them.

 

A source close to Lupolianski said Thursday, "Such a thing has never happened in the haredi sector. Porush has no chance of winning, but no one can prevent him from running. There is an agreement no one wants to violate, and his insistence will bring down the haredi public."

 

Degel Hatorah officials are standing behind the rotation agreement, but hope that the rabbis will pressure Porush to retire under the pretext of "life saving" or a great tumult in the haredi sector, after realizing he is not the right candidate to be elected mayor.

 

But the current mayor has no desire or need to "soil his hands" in an intra-haredi conflict, particularly when this is being performed by Deri. The former Shas chairman announced that he would run for mayor, while making sure to weaken Porush.

 

"Porush is running like a suicidal person. At the moment it seems like he won't quit the race, but this may happen later on," said an aide to Deri.

 

Should Deri's candidacy be approved, this would most definitely be the end of the Lupolianski era. However, if he is disqualified from running due to the criminal offenses he committed, Lupolianski will be back in the picture, big time.

 

Deri's declaration that he would run has undermined Porush's candidacy. All that is left is that the public setting its eyes on the Shas representative will look for a different haredi candidate.

 

An official in Lupolianski's office said in response, "The mayor has already said and written that he honors agreements, and has therefore decided to return to his life's work at Yad Sarah at the end of his current term."

 

On Thursday, a representative on behalf of former Shas leader Deri arrived at the Jerusalem Municipality and collected the application forms for the Jerusalem mayoral race.This move is a de facto declaration that Deri will be running for mayor and hopes to be recognized as a legitimate candidate. Deri's rivals are expected to express their objection after he hands in the forms.

 

Gilad Shenhav contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.12.08, 07:30
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