Allegations of election law violations have emerged surrounding the gubernatorial election held last November in Hyogo Prefecture, where support expressed by 22 mayors for candidate Kazumi Imamura is being called illegal under Japan's Public Election Law. The election, which took place on November 17, resulted in the re-election of incumbent governor Motohiko Saito, who garnered approximately 1.11 million votes compared to Imamura's 970,000. This controversy has led to significant scrutiny of electoral processes within the prefecture.
According to reports, the support declaration was made just days before the election, on November 14, when the 22 mayors, identified as representatives of the ‘Hyogo Mayors’ Association’, convened and publicly endorsed Imamura. This endorsement came under fire when former Kawanishi City Council member Chizuko Nakaso, who is also the complainant, filed criminal charges against the mayors with the Kobe District Prosecutors Office and Hyogo Prefectural Police on July 7, claiming their actions constituted a violation of the election law.
Nakaso's representative, attorney Nobuhiko Tokunaga, emphasized during a press conference the seriousness of the allegations, stating, "Support expressed by incumbent mayors during the electoral period was not performed merely as individuals but was framed through their public office status, which violates specific clauses of the election law concerning the prohibition of using one’s public office for election campaigning."
The 22 cities involved included Himeji, Nishinomiya, and Tamaki, significantly impacting local electoral dynamics. The allegation centers on Article 136-2 of the Public Election Law, which explicitly prohibits public officers from utilizing their official capacities to campaign or endorse specific candidates.
During the ensuing press conference, Tokunaga pointed out the inconsistency of justifying such endorsements as benign, noting, "It is not uncommon for public officials to endorse candidates, but these endorsements must arise from personal, not institutional, capacities. By using the mayoral association's platform, they clearly utilized their statuses for electoral gain."
Takayuki Sakai, the Mayor of Tamba-Sasayama and one of the mayors who declared support for Imamura, responded to the ensuing criticism. He argued, "We feel misunderstood as to why we supported Imamura. There were evident concerns about rising confusion from misinformation during the campaign season. The work at the city level cannot be separated from the prefectural governance, and the disorder at the prefectural level has direct repercussions on our citizens' lives."
Sakai's comments reflect broader concerns among the mayors about governance stability and public integrity amid electoral strife. He elaborated, "Our motivations were rooted not in maintaining our power but rather seeking proper governance to mitigate the discord prolonged by misrepresentation and miscommunication surrounding our local politics." The legal ramifications of Nakaso's complaint are still unclear, with authorities now deliberative on how to proceed based on her claim. The allegations highlight not only the intricacies of electoral laws but also how local governance can intersect with broader political narratives.
This situation will likely lead to increased scrutiny on how candidates and elected officials conduct themselves as the local election boards reference their responsibilities under the law. If the courts side with Nakaso’s claims, it may set significant precedents not only for future elections but also for how mayors wield their influence during political seasons.