MK to lose her dance shoes?
Knesset legal counsel says Nino Abesadze’s participation on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ may be unethical
Member of Knesset Nino Abesadze (Kadima) may not be allowed to sashay her way onto the TV show, “Dancing with the Stars,” as she had hoped. The legal counsel for the Knesset Eyal Yinon said Sunday that the MK’s possible participation in the show is a precedent that may present a conflict of interest and other legal and ethical issues.
Yinon said in a statement that Abesadze’s participation in the seventh season of the popular show that pitches celebrities against each other in dance competitions would put her in constant contact with producers and commercial broadcasters, which could transgress basic rules of the Knesset. Her dancing could also raise ethical issues because the show’s values may run counter to the “nature and character” of the Knesset, he added, according to Ynet news.
According to Knesset rules, Yinon explained, MKs are not allowed to engage with commercial and business entities for personal advancement. A level of independence between the two frameworks is necessary, he added.
Responding in a statement, Abesadze said she respects the opinions of Yinon but that there is a differentiation between her public and private personas. The final decision about her participation in the show has not been made, she added. Abesadze vowed that if she won, she would donate her winnings to charity.
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