Key Facts
• Iizuka City Council (28 seats, 2 vacant) passed a no-confidence motion on May 15.
• Chairman Toru Eguchi refused to resign after serving 2 years, breaking a council tradition.
• Eguchi initially planned to resign but reversed his decision on May 15 afternoon.
• Dispute arose over a policy agreement with the Constitutional Democratic Party (3 members).
• Agreement included Eguchi stepping down after 2 years, succeeded by Kiyokazu Sato for 1 year.
• Eguchi’s stance on halting a waste facility project added complexity to the issue.
• The council handbook states resigning as chairman also ends membership in the waste facility council.
• 16 council members supported the no-confidence motion, citing governance concerns.
• A council meeting on June 11 failed to meet quorum; regular session set for June 12.
• Professor Yu Munakata emphasized the need for councilors to prioritize citizens’ interests.
Summary
The Iizuka City Council in Fukuoka Prefecture remains in disarray following a no-confidence motion against Chairman Toru Eguchi. The motion, passed on May 15, stemmed from Eguchi’s refusal to resign after two years, breaking a long-standing tradition. A policy agreement with the Constitutional Democratic Party, which included Eguchi stepping down and Kiyokazu Sato succeeding him, was a key point of contention. Eguchi’s push to halt a waste facility project further complicated matters. The council handbook suggests resigning as chairman also ends membership in the waste facility council, a rule Eguchi contested. The no-confidence motion was supported by 16 members, citing governance concerns. A June 11 meeting failed to meet quorum, with the next session scheduled for June 12. Professor Yu Munakata urged councilors to focus on citizens’ interests and for voters to reflect on the turmoil in future elections.
