Jul 8, 2019

Yitzchak Pindrus seems to have the worst mazel ever

Yitzchak Pindrus of UTJ is a good guy, from everything I have read about him, is dedicated to his electorate, and would be a worthy Member of Knesset. But he seems to have the worst luck in the world.

After serving as mayor of Beitar, a rotation agreement within UTJ had him out on the streets. Degel brought him to Jerusalem with the goal of pushing him into the mayoral seat eventually. I guess he did good work there but advancing to run for mayor never happened. Degel sent him to Elad to run for mayor and he got messed up there and could not run.

Pindrus then got slotted in at #8 on the UTJ list for Knesset. In the elections for the 21st knesset back in April, it seemed Pindrus made it in by the skin of his teeth, but then Netanyahu failed to form a government and the 21st Knesset became the shortest serving ever as it dispersed and moved to new elections. Polls show UTJ getting only 6 seats in the upcoming elections - while anything can happen and they can get 8 again, chances of that happening seem to be low. Of course if UTJ serves in the coalition Pindrus might still get in under a Norwegian Law, but there is no guarantee.

And now, Pindrus might retroactively not even be an MK in the 21st Knesset, though it will still take time to determine that, one way or another. Amit Halevi, running in the Likud's 36th slot, has challenged the results of the last elections and claims that due to some miscounts, he is supposed to get in at the expense of Pindrus's seat. Meaning, if his claims are approved, the Likud would get a 36th seat in the 21st Knesset and UTJ would lose a seat. The results would be determined by a handful of votes, in either direction.

Halevi went to the courts demanding recounts in certain ballot stations, and UTJ responded requesting recounts in more stations. After all is said and done, according to the reports in Behadrei and Haredim10, it looks like Halevi is right and Likud should get that seat - by a handful of votes. Appeals and confirmations will delay this determination for a while, but it looks as of now that this is how it is going to happen.

I feel bad for Pindrus. As I said, he seems to be a good guy, but things just do not seem to work out well for him.


------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------

2 comments:

  1. You know how a "good guy" gets elected? By running for office, not by cutting one backroom deal after another.

    And did you wonder why Halevi is so desperate to be an MK for all of a few months?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. there is a lot of money involved. both for the party (election monies distributed are base don number of MKs) and for the individual. also prestige.

      Delete