On the 15th, the High Court's rulings were issued in 16 cases nationwide over the difference in the value of one vote of up to 3.03 times in this year's House of Councilors election.
Nine judicial judgments, more than half of the cases, said that the situation was markedly unequal, indicating a severe evaluation of the Diet's stance on correcting the disparity.
In the House of Councilors election in July this year, there was a disparity of up to 3.03 times in the number of eligible voters per member depending on the electoral district, and two lawyer groups ``contrary to the equality of voting value and violate the constitution''. We have filed 16 lawsuits in high courts and high court branches across the country seeking invalidation.
On the 15th, the final high court decision was handed down at the Akita branch of the Sendai High Court in a series of trials, and the decision was made that it was ``unconstitutional'' because ``the value of votes was in a state of significant inequality.''
With this, the high court decisions were complete, and although none invalidated the election, there was one case of "violation of the constitution" and eight cases of "unconstitutional state", and half of the judicial decisions were that the disparity in one vote was markedly unequal. exceeded.
Many of these rulings criticized the Diet for its declining attitude to correct disparities, and some even called for it to approach the House of Representatives elections, where the disparity is about double.
On the other hand, the judgments of the remaining seven cases were judged to be "constitutional."
The series of trials are expected to be examined collectively by the Supreme Court in the future, and a unified judgment will be presented.
Lawyer for plaintiff in Akita "Supreme Court ruling of 'unconstitutional state'"
After the Sendai High Court's Akita branch ruling, attorneys for the plaintiffs held a press conference, saying, "We are delighted to have received the ruling we had hoped for. We have filed a lawsuit in order to realize an electoral system that is proportional to the population. I feel that the legitimacy of my claim has been recognized."
In addition, in response to the fact that all the rulings of the series of trials were issued on the 15th, he said, "I think I have won all of them. None of the courts has clearly pointed out that they have not been able to review the correction of disparities, and some have enacted legislation. There are also rulings that severely criticize the prefectural government's stance.Currently, the fundamental electoral system is in a state of turmoil. I want you to make a decision," he said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno ``Watch the Supreme Court's deliberations''
At a press conference in the afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, ``There have been appeals against the high court decisions that have been handed down so far, and it is expected that the Supreme Court will hold trials in the future. I was.