Michael Ravilo withdraws candidacy for State Comptroller after High Court annuls vote

Michael Ravilo, Netanyahu's candidate for State Comptroller, withdrew his candidacy after the High Court annulled the previous election due to secrecy violations. The decision now passes to the incoming Knesset, with retired Supreme Court Justice Yosef Elron as the sole candidate.

Attorney Michael Ravilo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's candidate for State Comptroller, decided not to run again for the position in anticipated repeat elections after the swearing-in of the new Knesset. The background to the decision: the loss of the coalition majority, which reduces his chances of being elected, and the coalition's preference not to be confrontational towards retired Supreme Court Judge Yosef Elron, whose chances are higher. Associates of Ravilo stated that a coordinated campaign was waged against his candidacy, focusing on claims of conflict of interest, but the Supreme Court rejected petitions on the matter. The appointment affair developed into a constitutional crisis: in the first round, Elron won 60 votes and Ravilo 57; in the second round, Ravilo won, but the High Court invalidated the process and ordered new elections. The 26th Knesset will be sworn in on November 10, raising the question of whether it will need to hold only the second round or open the competition to new candidates. The Knesset's legal adviser is inclined not to open the competition, which would leave Elron as the sole candidate.