On the 13th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Investigation Division 2 arrested the political group “Tsubasano” on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act (obstruction of freedom) for interfering with street speeches by other camps in the Tokyo 15th Ward by-election for the House of Representatives held on April 28. The party’s offices in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, were raided. This was revealed through interviews with investigators.
Investigators leave the building that houses Tsubasa’s Party office, cardboard in hand, after completing a house search in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo on the 13th.
Other homes searched were the home of Atsuhiko Kurokawa (45), the group’s representative, in Asaka City, Saitama Prefecture, and the home of Ryosuke Nemoto (29), an unsuccessful candidate for the group, in Nerima Ward, Tokyo. A street propaganda vehicle, loudspeakers, placards, computers and other items were confiscated.
According to people involved in the investigation, during the by-election period, Mr. Kurokawa, Mr. Nemoto, and others repeatedly criticized and argued at the venue of street speeches of other camps at a volume so loud that the speeches could not be heard, and also at the venue of street speeches of other camps. He is suspected of blocking traffic by chasing him around in his car. The Metropolitan Police Department is said to have received several other complaints.
Ryosuke Nemoto of the Tsubasa Party speaks to other candidates from a public phone booth in the Tokyo 15th Ward by-election for the House of Representatives on April 16 in Koto Ward, Tokyo.
During the by-election period, Nemoto’s camp repeatedly engaged in acts that could be considered sabotage, such as chasing other camps’ street propaganda vehicles in what they called “car chases”. On April 18, two days after the announcement was made, the Metropolitan Police Department issued a warning to Kurokawa and others for violating the Public Elections Act for interfering with the election campaign of another camp.
After the raid, Kurokawa told reporters, “It’s an illegal investigation based on pressure. We’re just having a verbal confrontation. I will continue even if I am punished.”
◇
◆Liberal Democratic Party, Ritmin, and Restoration are positive; Komeito and Communist Party are cautious
On the 13th, the political group Tsubasa no Toi was raided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of violating the Public Elections Act (obstruction of freedom) regarding the by-election in Tokyo’s 15th Ward of the House of Representatives. Opinions were divided between the ruling and opposition parties on the pros and cons of amending the law. While the Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Japan Restoration Party expressed positive attitudes towards amending the law, Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party argued that the current law should be used.
At a press conference, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Mogi said, “We would like to consider effective measures such as strengthening penalties,” hinting at legal revisions. Ishin has already put together an outline of an amendment that clearly stipulates acts of obstruction, and Policy Research Institute Chairman Shun Otokita posted on ” posted. He said he would consult with all parties.
Ritsumeikan representative Kenta Izumi, who suffered election interference during the election by being hounded by Tsubasa’s party, told reporters in the Diet, “I would like to discuss reforms such as providing specific examples of election interference and considering the degree of punishment. This is being promoted within the party.” He said, “The content is similar to the ideas of the Meiji Restoration.”
On the other hand, Komeito representative Natsuo Yamaguchi told reporters at the prime minister’s office, “Rather than suddenly revising the law, we will first discuss the current law,” expressing the idea that the interpretation and operation of the current law should be clarified to respond to election interference. Indicated. At a press conference, Communist Party Secretary-General Akira Koike emphasized, “We will respond strictly in accordance with the current public election law and guarantee freedom of speech and election activities.” He expressed concern about the Meiji Restoration bill, saying it could lead to restrictions on speech that would shield the government at the time. (Nobuko Ohno)
◆Lawyer Wakasa: “It went beyond the scope of political activities”
Regarding the recent raid, attorney Masaru Wakasa, former deputy director of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office’s special investigation department and a member of the House of Representatives, said that Tsubasa’s party had asked questions and made arguments using a microphone at the speech venue of multiple candidates, and that the parties had protested. I think the point is that they didn’t listen to it. “There is room to consider it a political activity if the speaker makes a brief statement at a specific candidate’s speech venue, but it goes beyond the scope of political activity as it is being carried out for multiple candidates. “They probably thought it was big and decided to search for it,” he said.
On the other hand, he pointed out that the reason why the house was searched more than two weeks after the votes were counted on April 28 was “probably the result of careful consideration.” “It is difficult to judge which part of a candidate’s conduct constitutes election interference, and it would be a problem if the police made an arbitrary judgment.For example, when determining that a candidate’s conduct constitutes interference with a speech, they may consider the numerical value of the volume, “Wouldn’t it be better to set certain standards, such as whether the training was carried out for a specified period of time?” (Nakasangake)