The State Comptroller, Mattaniho Engelman, published a report that deals with the ways in which the factions and candidate lists take advantage of the state's loans, in the framework of the elections for the twenty-fifth Knesset, as well as in the framework of the current accounts of the factions in the 24th Knesset.
Yair Lapid votes for the 25th Knesset elections (archive) |
Paz Bar
In connection with this, it was determined that the "parties are abusing the state loans - the debts jumped by 440%".
In regards to the elections to the 25th Knesset, it emerged that problems were found in six factions in the area of accounts: the Jewish Home under the authority of Ayelet Shaked, the Likud, the state camp, Yesh Atid, Ra'am and the National Jewish Front.
According to the report, the factions' revenues for financing the election campaign totaled approximately 195.2 million shekels. Including 194.6 million shekels from state funding and a quarter of a million shekels from donations. On the other hand, expenses amounted to approximately 251.3 million shekels.
Election cards, photo: Liron Moldovan
The accounts of Likud and Yes Atid included expenses that are not normal, due to propaganda that is not in accordance with the law, the expenses of the Ra'am faction exceeded the established spending ceiling by about 16%. In terms of the results of the financial activity, it emerged that at the end of the period 14 of the factions that contested the elections finished with deficits totaling about 59.4 A million shekels.
The current accounts of the factions in the 24th Knesset
Of the 18 factions that received funding to cover their expenses, five factions were not given a positive report: Likud, Meretz, Ra'am, Derech Eretz and TLS.
With regard to the amounts of loans given to the factions in the 24th Knesset, it emerged that the debt balances of the factions for financing their election expenses have increased considerably since the law that allows them to receive loans from the state treasury and not from banks.
Election laws for the 25th Knesset, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The balance of loans taken from banking corporations prior to the amendment to the law, amounted to approximately NIS 35 million. In contrast, as of 11/30/22, the balance of loans amounts to approximately NIS 189 million, an increase of approximately 440% in the amount.
Restore balances of defunct factions
The Kulana parties led by Moshe Kahlon and Talam led by Moshe (Bogi) Yaalon did not return to the state treasury balances of money that they claim remained in their hands, amounting to approximately 1.4 and 2.3 million shekels respectively.
Election campaign in Rehovot, photo: Gideon Markovich
Employing candidates, family members and those related to the party
In the audit, it was brought up that the National Jewish Front faction included in its accounts for the election period salary expenses for a candidate who was included in the faction's list of candidates in the Knesset elections;
and that the Likud and Ra'am included in their accounts for the current period salary expenses for the employment of four candidates, who ran in the elections, without presenting any references that would clarify the scope of their employment, the method of determining the remuneration and their claimed professional expertise.
Violation of the law through propaganda
Two factions - the Likud and Yesh Atid - violated the provisions of the election law,
one returned and violated the obligation to identify themselves in its advertisements and used the state symbol, children and the IDF in its propaganda. The other faction did what prohibits the use of the IDF as part of the election propaganda.
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