2024-04-27 03:00:00
Hokkaido is in turmoil due to a government harassment scandal involving a member of the Hokkaido Diet. The epicenter was Gaku Hasegawa (53), a member of the House of Councilors of the Liberal Democratic Party. He allegedly behaved in an intimidating manner towards several local government employees, including Hokkaido government officials. As ordinances to prevent harassment of local assembly members are being promulgated in various places, is there any way to prevent or punish parliamentarians who go too far? (Joe Miyahata)
◆Explanation: “The mode of expression is not in keeping with the times. »
“This is the result of immorality. I am fully aware that my method of expression is not in tune with the times. From now on, I will change my method of expression to one more in tune with our times.”
In response to reports that he acted in a manner suspected of power harassment, Mr. Hasegawa provided this explanation on his blog.
Hasegawa, who was first elected in the 2010 Hokkaido House of Councilors election, is currently serving his third term. He served as Parliamentary Deputy Minister of the Interior and Communications and Deputy Minister of the Interior and Communications. He is also known for organizing the “YOSAKOI Soran Festival” while studying at Hokkaido University.
◆I went to Tokyo for an interview, it cost 20 million yen
There have been cases in which officials from the government office in Hokkaido Prefecture and Obihiro City were reprimanded and perceived to have acted in an intimidating manner. Sapporo Mayor Katsuhiro Akimoto complained, saying: “He is someone who speaks in a very harsh tone. »
That’s not all. In the last fiscal year, the city of Sapporo made a total of 284 business trips to Tokyo, including the mayor and deputy mayor, to meet Hasegawa. Expenses amounted to approximately 20 million yen, 72 of which was for interviews alone. Some employees worked more than 100 hours of overtime per month because of their interactions with him.
At the Hokkaido Prefectural government office, several employees traveled for interviews and other purposes more than 20 times during the past fiscal year. Additionally, starting in November last year, senior provincial government officials sent thank-you emails at times such as when supplementary budgets were passed in the Diet, and confirmed and indicated who sent them. No other member of Congress has been treated the same way.
◆“Local reputation will deteriorate and this will affect elections”
“This is the Special Reports Department” tried to seek Mr. Hasegawa’s opinion once more by calling the Diet office several times, but was unable to get through. Even following sending a fax, no response was received within the deadline.
parliament hall
The issue surrounding Mr. Hasegawa has caused widespread surprise and anger. Is it common for Diet members to act in an intimidating manner or make unreasonable demands on local government officials?
Masashi Nakano, a professor of public administration at Kobe Gakuin University who has experience in local governments, said: “Normally, Diet members and local governments work together to petition ministries and agencies central. If a local’s reputation deteriorates, it will affect elections. This is an unthinkable case.
On the other hand, the possibility of Diet members harassing local government employees is an “overlooked perspective.”
“I feel like this is the result of a trend that says, ‘It’s okay to denigrate public officials,’ that has gone too far. Hidden facts may come to light or things may change when politicians attack public officials. but there should be some sort of regulation regardless of authority. »
Lawyer Naoto Sasayama, who is familiar with harassment, says it concerns not only members of Congress, but also the current state of society.
◆“Human relationship building has deteriorated”
“Traditionally, serious harassment might result in civil or criminal prosecution. Not only has this already been highlighted, but I have the impression that the ability to build human relationships based on mutual consideration has deteriorated .”
Many local governments have adopted ordinances to prevent harassment of local assembly members. So how should we deal with similar issues that arise between Diet members and local government officials?
Lawyer Sasayama explained: “Even if you don’t necessarily have a direct command and order relationship, if you have the ability to contact someone and take advantage of a superior relationship, that does not constitute a harassment refusal factor. “We need to have a more concrete discussion,” he said.
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