The Deri for mayor of Jerusalem campaign suffered its first major blow on Wednesday when the chairman of the Central Election Committee announced he does not plan to respond to Deri’s query regarding his eligibility to run in the mayoral race about 10 months prior to the seven-year moral turpitude stain on his record is eradicated according to the law.

Justice Eliezer Rivlin explained that it is not within the authority of his position to make such a determination and as such, he does not intend to respond to the query submitted by Deri’s attorney.

As a result, Deri may be compelled to turn to President Shimon Peres to issue a pardon that would clear him to enter the mayoral race.

Senior legal authorities have explained a number of points regarding Deri and the moral turpitude stain that accompanied his conviction on fraud and bribery charges.

For one thing, many legal experts believe that the moral turpitude clause cannot be removed or pardoned, adding it is not a punishment, but a result of the conviction. The punishment was Deri’s jail term. Many experts believe that the moral turpitude stain can only be removed by the conviction being wiped off of Deri’s record, a move that is within the president’s authority.

Most view Justice Rivlin’s response as a bad omen for the Deri campaign and state that it hints as Rivlin believing Deri is asking the impossible.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)