Tokyo: Japan`s higher home of parliament on Wednesday expelled an absentee lawmaker for not attending a single parliamentary session since being elected in July 2022. Yoshikazu Higashitani, a content material creator referred to as GaaSyy, has been dwelling abroad and didn’t account for his absenteeism on a number of events regardless of being given the possibility to take action, experiences Xinhua information company.
Having already been stripped of his standing as a lawmaker, Higashitani`s expulsion from the higher chamber represents essentially the most severe punishment underneath Food plan Legislation.
Whereas Higashitani is the third lawmaker to be eliminated underneath Japan`s present Structure, he’s the primary to be expelled from parliament for failing to attend periods.
All however one of many 236 higher home members voted for Higashitani`s expulsion within the plenary session held on Wednesday.
The only real supporter for the absentee lawmaker who has been dwelling within the United Arab Emirates since earlier than his election, additionally belonged to Higashitani`s single-issue Seijika-joshi-48 Social gathering.
The tiny occasion, beforehand known as the NHK Social gathering, was recognized for being vital of Japan`s public broadcaster.
Higashitani got here to prominence on YouTube for posting content material about alleged celeb scandals.
His posts led to the police asking him to undergo voluntary questioning in December final 12 months and associated areas being searched the next month.
He has been underneath fireplace for amassing greater than 19 million yen ($141,000) in wage and bonuses as a lawmaker since being elected, regardless of his zero attendance charge.
Higashitani can also be alleged to have duped a number of folks out of cash after promising he might prepare for them to satisfy the members of a outstanding South Korean pop group.
Hiroshige Seko, the Liberal Democratic Social gathering`s higher home secretary-general, stated Wednesday that it was the desire of all political teams to expel Higashitani.
Predominant opposition Constitutional Democratic Social gathering of Japan member Masayo Tanabu, in the meantime, stated Higashitani lacked consciousness of representing the general public as stipulated by the Structure and that it was a matter in fact that he was expelled.
