Ohana Rejects Supreme Court Proposal for New Vote on State Comptroller

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said on Sunday that he will not hold a repeat vote for the post of State Comptroller, despite a proposal from Supreme Court justices during hearings on petitions challenging the selection process. In a statement from his office, Ohana said he had decided against a new vote "for all the reasons set out in the preliminary response to the petition and during the hearing."

The decision came after Thursday's hearing, when Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Sohlberg said the panel intended to issue an order nisi on the secrecy of the ballot and its implications. At the same time, he urged the Knesset to decide on its own to hold a fresh vote so the court would not have to rule on the matter.

Sohlberg said the court was minded to act on the question of ballot secrecy and related issues, but not on the issue of conflict of interest. He added that there was now "a cloud," "an unwelcome cloud," and "a bitter taste," saying some of the votes appeared problematic and that MKs had acted contrary to the Knesset legal adviser’s instructions while creating a new rule allowing filming.

He concluded by offering what he called an orderly procedural remedy, saying in plain language, "Do it again. Whatever you decide is fine, as long as it is done in a clean and proper procedure." After Ohana rejected the court’s suggestion, the High Court of Justice is expected to continue the case and issue a ruling. The prevailing expectation is that the judges will in practice order a repeat election for State Comptroller.