Photo/Illutration Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito after a no-confidence motion was submitted against him by the Hyogo prefectural assembly on Sept. 19 (Takeshi Shimawaki)

KOBE—The Hyogo prefectural assembly on Sept. 19 passed a no-confidence motion against Motohiko Saito, the Hyogo governor accused of power harassment and corruption who may now be forced out of office.

The no-confidence motion was jointly submitted by all prefectural assembly factions and members. Unsurprisingly, it was unanimously approved by the 86 assembly members.

A no-confidence motion by the local assembly is legally binding.

Saito could choose to dissolve the assembly, but he must do so within 10 days or lose his post.

After the vote, Saito told reporters: “Once again, I sincerely apologize to the people of the prefecture. The fact that the no-confidence motion was passed unanimously must be taken seriously.”

Asked when he would decide on his course of action, he said, “I will think about it while considering what is important for Hyogo Prefecture and asking my own heart. Since the motion has only just been passed, I cannot say when the timing will be.”

Saito could also resign with the consent of the assembly or call a runoff election.

If he decides to dissolve the prefectural assembly, it would be the first such move by a governor.

If that happens, a prefectural assembly election will be held within 40 days. If more than two-thirds of the newly-elected assembly members attend a session and a majority vote in favor of the no-confidence motion, Saito would lose his post.

The first order of business at the Sept. 19 assembly meeting was to vote on the supplementary budget proposal.

After the budget proposal was approved, all members and all factions jointly submitted the no-confidence motion against Saito, followed by debate on the measure.

The no-confidence motion stated that the governor “has brought prolonged and serious stagnation and confusion to the prefectural administration” and that “the budget for the next fiscal year should be compiled under a new governor who has the confidence of the people of the prefecture.”

Several assembly members had earlier called on Saito to step down.

A senior Hyogo prefectural official in March released documents to media organizations that described abusive behavior and gift-acceptance by Saito and his aides.

The prefectural government suspended the official for three months in a possible violation of the law to protect whistleblowers.

He was found dead in an apparent suicide in July.

(This article was written by Junichi Takitsubo and Takeshi Shimawaki.)

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