Key Facts
• June 12, Hyogo Prefectural Assembly concluded its June regular session.
• Governor Motohiko Saito proposed a 50% salary reduction for three months.
• Proposal linked to private information leak by former General Affairs Director.
• Third-party committee suggested Saito may have directed the leak for political purposes.
• Saito denied involvement but acknowledged management responsibility.
• Assembly postponed voting, opting for continued deliberation.
• Saito’s salary has been reduced by 30% since his first term.
• Proposal included additional cuts for both governor and vice governor.
• Assembly members expressed concerns about prematurely concluding the issue.
• Majority voted for continued deliberation, citing unresolved accountability.
Summary
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly deferred voting on Governor Motohiko Saito’s proposed salary reduction on June 12, opting for continued deliberation. The proposal, which suggested a 50% salary cut for three months, was linked to a private information leak involving a former General Affairs Director. A third-party committee indicated Saito might have directed the leak for political purposes, though he denied the allegations. Assembly members expressed concerns about prematurely concluding the issue, leading to a majority decision to delay the vote. Saito has already implemented a 30% salary reduction since his first term, with the new proposal including additional cuts for both himself and the vice governor. The assembly’s decision reflects ongoing scrutiny over accountability and transparency in the matter.
