Interior Minister Avraham Poraz decided yesterday that city hall elections for Jerusalem, Haifa and Or Akiva, whose mayors became members of the Knesset, will be held on June 3. Poraz also proposes to lower the voting age to 17, allowing anyone who reaches that age by June 3 to cast a ballot for mayor.
Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna resigned the Haifa mayorality, Industry Minster Ehud Olmert quit Jerusalem's and Likud MK Ya'acov Edri left Or Akiva's for seats in the Knesset, which they won in January's general election.
Israeli law prevents Knesset members from serving as mayors, and it is up to the interior minister to set election dates for a city race if a mayor quits before the end of his term. Until the city elections, the former mayor's deputy serves in his place.
Poraz overruled a decision by his predecessor, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, who decided that the elections in those three cities would be held at the same time as the elections for local authorities throughout the country. Yishai said his decision was meant to save money.
Yishai's opponents said that postponing the elections wasn't in the best interests of the public in the three cities. Poraz accepted that view and asked the ministry's legal advisors to prepare legislation moving up the elections. The bill will also provide for lowering the voting age and a 25 percent cut in the state subsidy of the party campaigns.
Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna resigned the Haifa mayorality, Industry Minster Ehud Olmert quit Jerusalem's and Likud MK Ya'acov Edri left Or Akiva's for seats in the Knesset, which they won in January's general election.
Israeli law prevents Knesset members from serving as mayors, and it is up to the interior minister to set election dates for a city race if a mayor quits before the end of his term. Until the city elections, the former mayor's deputy serves in his place.
Poraz overruled a decision by his predecessor, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, who decided that the elections in those three cities would be held at the same time as the elections for local authorities throughout the country. Yishai said his decision was meant to save money.
Yishai's opponents said that postponing the elections wasn't in the best interests of the public in the three cities. Poraz accepted that view and asked the ministry's legal advisors to prepare legislation moving up the elections. The bill will also provide for lowering the voting age and a 25 percent cut in the state subsidy of the party campaigns.