MK (Shas) Michael Malchieli is proposing a bill that would compel a mayoral candidate to reside in the city/municipality for at least one year before becoming eligible to run in a municipal election.

The initiative was prompted by the events that surrounded the mayoral bid in the Elad elections by Degel Hatorah candidate Yitzchak Pindrus.

Pindrus, who has been serving as a deputy mayor in Yerushalayim, changed his residence to Elad shortly before the elections to become eligible to run for mayor. His residency was challenged by the Peleg Yerushalmi in court, and his candidacy was disqualified. Degel Hatorah and Shas took the case to the Supreme Court, and the nation’s highest court upheld the lower court’s decision, disqualifying Pindrus’ bid to become mayor of Elad.

Malchieli explains that if a candidate is required to be a resident for a year before registering in elections, it will provide him/her with sufficient time to learn about the city as opposed to what occurs today, with people changing their residence shortly before elections just to satisfy eligibility requirements.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)