Chiba City Council Invalidates Petition Due to Lack of Signatory Seal

On the 13th, the Chiba City Council’s management committee announced that a petition submitted by four members of the Association for the Restoration of Japan and an independent group was invalidated. The petition was deemed invalid due to the lack of a signatory seal, which is required in cases of ghostwriting.

Background of the Petition

The petition was submitted in response to a report that the city had provided draft manuscripts to multiple members of two factions, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and independents, to express their support for a bill introduced by the city.

Representative Apologizes for Invalid Petition

During the meeting, Representative Satoshi Moriya (Ishin), a committee member and general secretary of the Ishin/Independent Association, apologized for the invalid petition, stating that it was ultimately his responsibility. Representative Takashi Sakurai, who wrote the petition in his own name, explained that he had done so due to the approaching deadline for submission.

Consequences of the Invalid Petition

As a result of the invalid petition, five members of the Meiji Restoration and Independent factions withdrew their plans to ask representative questions and general questions based on the petition. Additionally, there are moves by other factions to submit a resolution recommending the resignation of members of Representative Sakurai’s faction as early as the 17th.