News On Japan

Japan top court rules vote value gap in 2022 Upper House election constitutional

TOKYO, Oct 19 (NHK) - Japan's Supreme Court has ruled that the disparity in the value of votes in last year's Upper House election was constitutional.

The top court handed down the decision on Wednesday.

In the July 10, 2022 Upper House election, the disparity in the value of votes was up to 3.03 times between the constituency that had the largest number of voters per seat and the one with the least number.

Two groups of lawyers filed lawsuits with high courts and their branches nationwide, asking them to nullify the results of the election. The plaintiffs said the disparity violates the Constitution's guarantee of vote equality.

One of the courts and the branches ruled the gap was unconstitutional, eight said it was in a "state of unconstitutionality," and seven found it constitutional.

None of the rulings invalidated the election results.

The Supreme Court ruled the 5-fold and 4-fold disparities in the 2010 and 2013 Upper House elections were in a "state of unconstitutionality."

The gaps in the 2016 and 2019 Upper House elections were reduced to around three times after the rezoning of some constituencies and other measures. The disparities in the two elections were ruled constitutional.

Source: 日テレNEWS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A camera crane collapsed at a music festival venue in Osaka, injuring at least four people.

Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has reported the occurrence of a major solar flare on October 3rd.

Tokyo University's iconic Red Gate, which has long been a symbol for prospective students to pass through, has remained closed for the past three years, leaving many students unable to experience walking through it.

Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant ministers to draft economic measures focused on addressing rising prices, strengthening growth, and ensuring safety and security.

A man who was placed on the public wanted list Thursday is suspected of playing a key role in a series of robberies in Tokyo and Saitama.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Politics NEWS

It was a case of fifth-time lucky for Shigeru Ishiba, who was sworn in as Prime Minister of Japan on 1 October 2024. After four unsuccessful attempts to win the leadership of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) between 2008 and 2020, and his increasingly isolated position as an outsider within the party, it looked like he had missed his chance. His perseverance has now paid off. (East Asia Forum)

Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed relevant ministers to draft economic measures focused on addressing rising prices, strengthening growth, and ensuring safety and security.

On 27 September, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) chose Shigeru Ishiba as its new leader from an unprecedentedly large field of nine contenders. He succeeded Fumio Kishida as prime minister on 1 October, and has called an election for 27 October. After suffering defeats in four previous party leadership elections, how did Ishiba win this time? (East Asia Forum)

Gifu Prefecture has decided not to appeal a ruling by the Nagoya High Court, which deemed the police’s collection and provision of residents’ personal information to a business operator as illegal.

Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Tuesday highlighted his priorities in his first news conference after taking office. They include political reform, revising a major agreement with an ally and getting the public's mandate. (NHK)

Japan's incoming prime minister Ishiba Shigeru will officially assume his post at the Diet on Tuesday. He says he will call a snap election on October 27. (NHK)

The new leader of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has officially announced his executive lineup. LDP President Ishiba Shigeru is set to become prime minister on Tuesday. (NHK)

Japan's former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to become the country's new prime minister. He replaces current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who said he would not stand again after a series of financial and political scandals rocked the LDP party. (DW News)