The candidacy of Jerusalem District Court Judge Yosef Shapira for the post of state comptroller took a large step forward on Wednesday as 70 Knesset members signed a statement declaring their support for him.

Shapira has the support of most of the parties in the Knesset — with the notable exception of Labor, which supported Judge Eliezer Rivlin for the position.

The Knesset is to vote on a replacement for current State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss on May 14.