Politics · Japan · 7 hrs ago
Saitama Assembly closes after overnight dispute over a councillor’s insult
The Saitama Prefectural Assembly closed just before 6 a.m.
on Oct.
17, hours after its scheduled closing day ended.
The dispute began when ruling-party leader Takumi Tamura called councillor Wataru Inoue “stupid” during a committee session on Oct.
14.
Tamura later withdrew the remark and apologised, but Inoue sought formal disciplinary action, saying the comment was improper.
Members of Tamura’s Liberal Democratic Party group also sought action against Inoue, alleging he banged a chair against a desk and left noisily.
The competing demands kept assembly proceedings stalled through the night as councillors debated whether either man should face discipline.
In the end, motions asking both councillors to apologise in the chamber passed by majority vote, leaving both sides reprimanded.
The sources do not describe any further action after the assembly closed.
The Saitama Prefectural Assembly closed shortly before 6 a.m. on October 17 after a dispute over an insult by a senior ruling-party councillor.
The dispute began when councillor Takumi Tamura called councillor Wataru Inoue “an idiot” during a committee meeting on October 14.
Inoue sought disciplinary action against Tamura, while members of the Liberal Democratic Party caucus also sought action against Inoue over his conduct during the meeting.
The assembly’s scheduled final session on October 16 was repeatedly interrupted as members disagreed over the proposed measures.
Both councillors were asked to apologize in the chamber, and the assembly approved motions concerning both of them.
- Who
- Saitama Prefectural Assembly members, including Liberal Democratic Party caucus leader Takumi Tamura and independent councillor Wataru Inoue.
- What
- The assembly closed after an overnight dispute over Tamura’s insult and proposed disciplinary action against both councillors.
- When
- The dispute began on October 14; the assembly closed shortly before 6 a.m. on October 17.
- Where
- Saitama Prefectural Assembly, Japan.
- Why
- Members disagreed over how to respond to Tamura’s insult and over Inoue’s conduct during the committee meeting.
Liberal Democratic Party caucus
Inoue and the Independent Citizens’ Assembly
Disciplinary action
Liberal Democratic Party caucus
The caucus sought action against Inoue, saying he struck a chair against a desk and left noisily in an intimidating manner.
Inoue and the Independent Citizens’ Assembly
Inoue sought strict disciplinary action against Tamura over the insult.
Conduct at the committee meeting
Liberal Democratic Party caucus
The caucus argued Inoue’s actions breached assembly rules and standards of conduct.
Inoue and the Independent Citizens’ Assembly
Inoue objected to Tamura’s remarks during his questioning.
Tamura insulted Inoue during a committee meeting as Inoue questioned officials.
Inoue asked the assembly speaker to take disciplinary action against Tamura.
Tamura apologized at a committee meeting, but Inoue later filed a request for strict disciplinary action.
The assembly’s final session was repeatedly interrupted as members debated motions concerning both councillors.
The assembly approved motions concerning both councillors and closed.
- Assembly
- Saitama Prefectural Assembly
- Caucus leader
- Takumi Tamura, 55
- Other councillor
- Wataru Inoue, 47
- Initial incident
- October 14 committee meeting
- Closure
- Shortly before 6 a.m. on October 17
- Assembly size
- 84 members; the Liberal Democratic Party caucus had 50 members and the Independent Citizens’ Assembly had five
3 sources
What people are saying
That can't be true. Idiot.
It was an extremely inappropriate remark.