Miyagi assembly sets up first ethics review panel over harassment claims
In short
The Miyagi Prefectural Assembly installed its first political ethics review committee on Oct. 5 to examine harassment allegations against assembly member Taku Watanabe. The request was filed by the head of the largest faction with signatures from 39 members of five factions and was accepted by the speaker. The committee, which Nippon TV News says can recommend a member's resignation, is expected to hold its first meeting in mid-October.
Read the full story 2 min read
The Miyagi Prefectural Assembly installed a political ethics review committee on Oct. 5 to examine harassment allegations against assembly member Taku Watanabe, the first such committee in the assembly's history, Mainichi Shimbun and Nippon TV News reported. The request was filed by Yokoyama Takamitsu, head of the largest faction, the LDP–Prefectural Residents' Conference, who submitted the signatures of 39 members from five factions to Speaker Sasaki Koji. TBS NEWS DIG also reported that the request was submitted and accepted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nippon TV News reported that the committee has the power to recommend that a member resign, and that its members will be nominated by the factions and appointed by the speaker; Mainichi reported that members will be selected from among assembly members. Both outlets said the first meeting is expected in mid-October at the earliest. The committee was set up under a political ethics ordinance that took effect in 2000, Nippon TV News said, and is the first of its kind in the prefecture. [ 1 , 2 ]
Nippon TV News reported that a prefectural investigation found more than a dozen intimidating remarks by Watanabe toward prefectural staff, including “ふざけるな” and “最低の課長”. TBS NEWS DIG's headline cited “最悪の人間” and “最低の課長” among the reported remarks. Watanabe, 50, represents Sendai's Taihaku ward. He received a strict warning from his faction and left it on Sept. 17, becoming an independent, according to Mainichi and Nippon TV News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yokoyama said he wanted the review to be fair and proper, and hoped it would lead to an easier workplace for prefectural staff and deeper trust between members and employees, Mainichi reported. Speaker Sasaki said assembly members are the representatives of the residents and that he takes the request very gravely, according to Nippon TV News. Watanabe said he would answer sincerely, based on the facts, to get at the truth, both outlets reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
The committee will examine whether Watanabe's words and conduct amount to harassment. The documents do not say when the alleged conduct took place, when the review will conclude, or whether a recommendation of resignation is expected. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The review is the first use of Miyagi Prefecture's political ethics ordinance since it took effect in 2000, so it tests a procedure the assembly has never used before. Its outcome could set a precedent for how the assembly handles misconduct claims against members, and for how the conduct of elected officials toward prefectural staff is judged. The case remains a local one, with no stated implications beyond the prefecture.
Key facts
- The Miyagi Prefectural Assembly set up a political ethics review committee on Oct. 5, the first in its history. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The request was filed by Yokoyama Takamitsu, head of the largest faction, the LDP–Prefectural Residents' Conference, with the signatures of 39 members from five factions, and submitted to Speaker Sasaki Koji. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The committee is to examine whether the words and conduct of assembly member Taku Watanabe toward prefectural staff amount to harassment. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A prefectural investigation found more than a dozen intimidating remarks toward staff, including “ふざけるな” and “最低の課長”, according to Nippon TV News. [ 2 ]
- Watanabe, 50, who represents Sendai's Taihaku ward, received a strict warning from his faction and left it on Sept. 17, becoming an independent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The first committee meeting is expected in mid-October at the earliest. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Speaker Sasaki said he takes the request very gravely because assembly members are representatives of the residents. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Miyagi Prefectural Assembly installed a political ethics review committee for the first time, over harassment allegations against assembly member Taku Watanabe. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The request was filed on Oct. 5 by faction head Yokoyama Takamitsu with the signatures of 39 members from five factions and submitted to Speaker Sasaki Koji. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Watanabe left the LDP faction on Sept. 17 and is now an independent. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Watanabe said he would answer sincerely, based on the facts, to get at the truth. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The first meeting of the committee is planned for mid-October. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the committee will recommend that Watanabe resign, and what consequences would follow. Nippon TV News is the only document stating that the committee has the power to recommend resignation, and no document says what outcome is expected.
- Which specific remarks are at issue. Nippon TV News cites “ふざけるな” and “最低の課長”, while TBS NEWS DIG's headline cites “最悪の人間” and “最低の課長”, so the examples given partly differ.
- When the alleged conduct took place and when the committee will conclude its review. The documents give no dates for the alleged remarks and set no end date for the review.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Mainichi Shimbun reports that the political ethics review committee was installed after Yokoyama Takamitsu submitted the signatures of 39 members from five factions to Speaker Sasaki Koji, and that Watanabe said he would answer sincerely based on the facts. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the committee is the first in prefectural history and has the power to recommend resignation, and that a prefectural investigation found more than a dozen intimidating remarks toward staff. [ 2 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports that the request for the committee was submitted and accepted, and notes that Watanabe represents Sendai's Taihaku ward. [ 3 ]