The chairman of the Fukui Prefectural Assembly, Toshi Miyamoto, resigned after making controversial comments during the gubernatorial election that drew criticism on social media.
Toshi Miyamoto, the chairman of the Fukui Prefectural Assembly, resigned on January 20 following backlash from inappropriate remarks he made during the gubernatorial election in Fukui Prefecture. His comments, directed towards his rival candidate, were made during a speech supporting former Echizen City Mayor Kenichi Yamada on the first day of the election campaign. Miyamoto expressed his reluctance to fight for a candidate he deemed unworthy, saying, 'I am sad to have to struggle for a candidate like that.'
In addition to these comments, he referred to young voters who do not belong to any organizations as 'silent voters,' implying that such quiet voters should not be allowed to determine the outcome of elections. These remarks captured in a video went viral on social media, leading to significant criticism from the public and media. Following his resignation, he acknowledged the gravity of his statements, expressed deep apologies, and clarified that his concerns about 'silent voters' were rooted in the fear of uninformed voting behavior.
Miyamoto stated that he had personally apologized to rival candidate Takuto Ishida after the election. The new chairman, Tomohiro Kobori, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and in his third term, has been appointed to succeed him. This incident highlights the sensitivities in political discourse, especially regarding voter engagement and the respect for all electoral participants.
