Key Facts
• October 22, Hyogo Prefectural Assembly resumed its regular session.
• Governor Motohiko Saito’s salary reduction proposal was deferred for the second time.
• Proposal includes reducing governor’s salary by 50% (from 30%) for three months.
• Vice Governor Yohei Hattori’s salary reduction proposed at 25% (from 15%).
• Third-party committee in May reported governor likely instructed information leak.
• Governor denied allegations but acknowledged management responsibility for the leak.
• Four major political groups supported continued deliberation, citing insufficient explanation.
• Assembly Speaker Shinpei Yamaguchi criticized lack of depth in governor’s responses.
• Communist Party opposed, demanding governor’s resignation over unresolved issues.
• Expert analysis suggests proposal seen as minimizing the issue, causing divided opinions.
Summary
The Hyogo Prefectural Assembly has deferred Governor Motohiko Saito’s salary reduction proposal for the second time, citing unresolved issues surrounding an information leak scandal. The proposal, introduced in June, seeks to increase the governor’s salary reduction to 50% and the vice governor’s to 25% for three months. A third-party investigation in May suggested the governor likely instructed the leak, which he denies, though he admitted management responsibility. Four major political groups supported continued deliberation, while the Communist Party opposed, demanding the governor’s resignation. Assembly Speaker Shinpei Yamaguchi criticized the governor’s insufficient responses. Experts suggest the proposal may be perceived as downplaying the issue, reflecting divided public opinion. The governor pledged to continue providing explanations in future deliberations.
