G, he was obviously not feeling well at all. The fact of the matter is that in those circles the askanim make the decisions and manipulate the gedolim. According to Rav Simcha Kook Gafni lied to Rav Eliashiv to get him to approve joining Sharon’s coalition. Rav Kaminetzky even wrote in a letter to someone that he signs what his rabbanim recommend. Another possibility is that being that Lapid does not have brothers (only two sisters) the proof of yibum falls away.
Laskern, so what? Where does it say that there is no yibum for a mumar l’chachis?