Tourism Minister Meseznikov resigns from politics

Minister announces that he won't be running for Yisrael Beytenu party list, a day after MK Anastasia Michaeli quits.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN, JPOST.COM STAFF, LAHAV HARKOV
Stas Meseznikov 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Stas Meseznikov 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov (Yisrael Beytenu) on Tuesday announced his resignation from politics.
Meseznikov was a member of Yisrael Beytenu for 14 years, and foreign minister and party leader Avigdor Liberman expressed regret over his resignation.
"Minister Meseznikov held many important roles in the political system in the last two terms, he exceeded above and beyond in every one of them and greatly contributed to the economic and social strength of Israel and its citizens," Liberman said.
He added that Meseznikov had been expected to recieved a high spot on the party list and a senior position in the next government.
Meseznikov has recently been the subject of allegations that he regularly gets drunk goes to strip clubs and misses important cabinet meetings. The minister responded the the accusations saying that former bodyguards leaked false stories.
His resignation followed MK Anastasia Michaeli's announcement Monday night that she would not be seek a place on the party's list for the next Knesset and would retire from politics.
Michaeli, who was involved in several political scandals, was not expected to receive a realistic slot on the Yisrael Beytenu list, which will be announced Tuesday.
Michaeli received overtures from the Strong Israel party led by MK Arieh Eldad, who hoped she would bring his party votes from Russian immigrants. But she decided she would remain loyal to Yisrael Beytenu, even though she would not be on its Knesset list.