Israel's election this week had an actual "king" on the ballot, and he arrived dressed for the part. Known as "King Sharshar," businessman Eitan Shvili from Givat Shmuel campaigned in a royal blue cape, a gold crown, heavy gold chains and rings, and became famous for throwing dollar bills wherever he went. Strictly speaking, he did not run for prime minister, because Israelis vote for party lists rather than directly for the job, so he led his own party, "Sharshar for Love and Unity of the People." His platform reportedly included handing out cash, making Benjamin Netanyahu his foreign minister, keeping Haredi students in study while drafting those who do not study, and uniting the country through love.

The voters were not sold. Reports put his total at roughly 1,300 to 1,500 votes, nowhere near what is needed to win a seat in the 120-member Knesset. He did manage to finish ahead of at least one better-known rival, as former deputy minister Sharren Haskel's Israel First party collected fewer than 1,000 votes. His story has also drawn attention for the personal side, since he has reportedly described the royal look as a way of coping with PTSD after a family incident. In the end the crown, the cape and the cash could not turn showmanship into seats, and the real power struggle is being fought between Netanyahu's bloc and Gadi Eisenkot's. Long live the king, just not in the Knesset.