Former Supreme Court Justice Yossef Elron challenges illegal state comptroller vote

Retired Supreme Court Justice Yossef Elron petitioned the High Court of Justice on Monday to cancel the vote that elected attorney Michael Ravilo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer, as state comptroller. Elron argued the process was unlawful and joined the petitioners, the Movement for Quality Government and opposition parties.

Ravilo was elected by 61 votes to 57 over Elron in the second round. In the first round, Elron led with 60 votes to 57, but did not reach the required 61-vote majority. The opposition said lawmakers were asked to photograph their ballots behind the curtain, and some later posted images showing Ravilo’s name, despite legal advisers having barred mobile phones behind the curtain.

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said each voter had the right to decide whether to photograph themselves. The petitions now before the court say the election process was tainted and that the principle of ballot secrecy was violated.

The petitions also cite Basic Law: The State Comptroller, which requires a secret ballot, and argue that photographing ballots destroyed the secrecy meant to let lawmakers vote freely. They further contend that choosing the prime minister’s lawyer severely damages public trust in the State Comptroller’s office. The High Court is scheduled to hear the cases in a live session on Thursday.