State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman publishes a report in which he exposes the candidates in the preliminary elections of various political parties for the 25th Knesset who were fined financially due to deficiencies found in their financial statements.
The law stipulates that every candidate must submit to the State Comptroller a financial report of their income and expenses for the preliminary elections, no later than six weeks after the day of the preliminary elections. A candidate who did not receive any donations or did not incur any expenses during these elections shall provide the State Comptroller with a confirmation of this.
The State Comptroller examined and found that out of 216 candidates in the preliminary elections, 138 candidates had no irregularities, while 78 candidates had irregularities. 12 out of the 78 candidates did not submit financial reports, and therefore, the State Comptroller determined that these candidates did not comply with the law. Additionally, the Comptroller ruled that they must transfer sums to the state treasury.
The first on the list of those fined, who received the highest fine, is Minister Nir Barkat, who competed and secured a high position in the primaries for the Likud party. In his accounts, irregularities were found in expenses amounting to approximately 231,278 NIS above the limits set by law, which represents an excess of about 70% above the allowed expenditure limit. Following this irregularity, the State Comptroller instructed the minister to transfer a fine of 50,000 NIS to the state treasury.
Knesset member Gilad Kariv, who competed and was also elected in the primaries for the Labor Party, was fined 15,000 NIS to the state treasury. This was due to an excess expenditure of 96,000 NIS beyond what was allowed, as well as a significant delay in submitting the financial report.
Boaron at 10,000, Sukkot at 5,000
Other Knesset members who were fined include:
- Avihai Boaron from Likud, fined 10,000 shekels.
- Zvi Sukkot from the Religious Zionism party, fined 5,000 shekels.
- Nissim Vaturi from Likud, fined 2,500 shekels.
- Minister Gamliel from Likud, fined 2,400 shekels.
- Hanoch Milwidsky, also from Likud, fined 1,100 shekels.
- Tali Gottlieb from Likud, fined 1,000 shekels.
- Naama Lazimi from the Labor Party, also fined 1,000 shekels.
