Japan Press Weekly

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2022 January 19 - 25 TOP3 [POLITICS]

JCP Inoue: Local suffrage for permanent foreign residents in Japan is not prohibited under Constitution

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Inoue Satoshi on January 20 took part in an online rally hosted by a civil group working to realize local suffrage for permanent foreign residents in Japan, saying, “In the Diet, I’ll push the government to work swiftly on this matter.”

Delivering a speech, Inoue pointed out that as foreign nationals who reside in Japan’s local municipalities with permanent resident status fulfill their obligations including paying taxes, and that allowing them to engage in local self-governance matches the fundamental spirit of local autonomy.

Inoue stressed that the 1995 Supreme Court ruling states that guaranteeing permanent foreign residents in Japan local voting rights is not prohibited under the Constitution. He also pointed out that among OECD member countries, only Japan turns its back on local suffrage for foreign nationals residing in Japan.

Inoue noted that the percentage of municipalities where local assemblies adopted a statement in support of permanent foreign residents’ local suffrage have exceeded 50%, and that in many private polls, respondents expressed support. He again expressed his determination to work hard in the Diet to realize local suffrage for permanent foreign residents.