"Science Council of Japan" Tour of the Diet Continues October 8 4:37
The Diet will hold a debate (8th) during the closing examination on the 8th over the fact that 6 candidate members of the Science Council of Japan were not appointed.
The government and the ruling party will continue to carefully explain that it is not a violation of the law and seek understanding, while the opposition party will pursue further because it is insufficient to explain the reason for not appointing.
The Diet is expected to have a debate during the closing examination of the House of Councilors Cabinet Committee on the 8th, following the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee on the 7th, over the fact that the 6 member candidates recommended by the Science Council of Japan were not appointed. is.
In the debate on the 7th, the opposition party stipulated the reason for not appointing, while the government explained that "Prime Minister Suga judged as the appointed person from a comprehensive and fuzzy point of view." ..
In addition, the opposition party pointed out that it may be a change in the interpretation of the law, inconsistent with past answers, regarding the government's compilation of a document stating that "it cannot be said that there is an obligation to appoint as recommended by the meeting." On the other hand, the government explained, "The prime minister does not have to appoint as recommended, it does not mean that he has changed his mindset."
The government and the ruling party will continue to carefully explain and seek understanding during the deliberation on the 8th, saying that this response does not violate the law or infringe on academic freedom.
On the other hand, the opposition party will further investigate the reason why Edano, the representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party, did not appoint him because the government's explanation was insufficient, such as saying that he "accepts the government's stance with strong resentment." I have decided.
Background of the involvement of the official residence in the personnel affairs of the academic conference
In addition to the refusal to appoint this appointment, the Prime Minister's Office was involved at least four times regarding the personnel affairs of the Science Council of Japan, according to interviews with several former executives of the Science Council of Japan.
1 Replenishment personnel in 2016
Four years ago, in the summer of 2016, three members reached the retirement age of 70, so it was necessary to fill the vacancies, and the selection committee made up of executives selected candidates.
In response to a request from the Prime Minister's Office during the selection process, the academic council showed six candidates, two in each post, instead of just the three who were most likely to be recommended. Of these, two of them were recommended by the conference side, and the official residence showed disapproval.
On the meeting side, three people were vacant due to the replacement of candidates.
"I was initially skeptical about listing multiple candidates for the Prime Minister's Office," said one former executive.
Professor Emeritus Takashi Onishi of the University of Tokyo, who was the chairman of the Science Council at the time, said, "I was surprised to see the disapproval of the official residence. I thought the candidate was a perfect person. It was a bitter experience." ..
2 Replacement personnel in 2017
The Science Council of Japan consists of 210 members, and the term of office is six years, with half changing every three years.
Three years ago, in 2017, before deciding 105 new members, the official residence asked for an explanation of the selection situation, and Professor Emeritus Onishi, who was the chairman at that time, exceeded the capacity of 105 people. It means that he showed a list of about 110 people to the official residence.
The official residence asked questions and opinions about the candidates, but in the end, the academic council recommended 105 candidates, all of whom were appointed.
Regarding this, Professor Emeritus Onishi said, "There is an opinion that it is not appropriate to explain to the official residence side in the selection process, but that does not change the candidates to be recommended. The Science Council is a government agency and the appointed person I think it was necessary to explain to him. "
3 Replenishment personnel in 2018
From October 2017, former President Juichi Yamagiwa of Kyoto University served as the chairman of the Science Council in place of Professor Emeritus Onishi.
Then, in September (2018), one of the members reached the retirement age of 70, so it was necessary to fill the vacancy again, and when the academic conference side told the candidate's name, it was the same as four years ago. It means that he was disliked by the official residence.
There is no explanation for the reason, and it means that he was vacant for two years until autumn.
4 This year's shift personnel
At the time of the personnel affairs of this year, as in the case of three years ago, the official residence asked me to show a list of candidates exceeding the capacity of 105 people, but the academic conference did not respond.
The academic council recommended 105 candidates, the same as the capacity, on August 31, but Prime Minister Suga did not appoint six of them.
One of the former executives said, "The prime minister's office began to intervene in the personnel affairs of the academic conference after the response of the supplementary personnel four years ago. I think that explaining the selection situation was a response to make the official residence look. However, it was used successfully and the official residence exercised its authority. It should not be. "