The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved today (Sunday) the bill that would require party leaders to pay the debts they left behind - in the event of another run in the elections with a new party.
The bill, initiated by MK Avichai Boaron of the Likud, stipulates that all funds raised by a new party will first be used to repay the debts of the previous party, which was headed by the same person who currently serves as the chairman of the new party, before the funds are made available to the new party.
The proposal will apply to any party whose leader served as the leader of another party in the seven years prior to its establishment, provided that the State Comptroller determines that the previous party conducted itself improperly, leading it into debt.
'The Jewish Home is in debt of approximately 3 million shekels, and Yamina is in debt of approximately 17 million shekels.
During the discussion, a heated confrontation developed between the ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Justice.
Minister Shlomo Kerei Zaam: "The severe harm is to the public whose money is being taken.".
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir added: "I don't understand, are you sitting around encouraging this? It's at the expense of the public, not at the expense of your grandmother. Instead of saying that there is an important proposal here that contributes to public trust – you are against it!""
Deputy Attorney General Sharon Afek responded: "It's retroactive and it's innovative. The party chairman is responsible for the debts.".
Minister Yariv Levin criticized the Justice Ministry's position: "The premise of the work is very problematic, that a person is taking money from the public. It is completely absurd!""
Minister Kari later refined his claims: "Is there a precedent for such fraud? Of a person who has a party and starts another party just to get away with it?""
Minister Ben Gvir added: "I want to know if I were to bring a term-limiting law, would you also say it was retroactive or would you applaud? 'Knights of Democracy'.".
Political commentator Amit Segal wrote: "Is such a law needed? Of course. An end to the ugly phenomenon in which public leaders accumulate debt, "go bankrupt" and establish a new party.".
""Is the motivation to fix the system? Of course not. The timing and the goal are not coincidental.".
""What overrides what? It doesn't matter that much. The High Court will anyway determine that the application will only apply to parties that accumulated the debt after the law was passed.".
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