Nippon Ishin no Kai to Impose 'Speech Restrictions' on Lawmakers Holding Government Posts
Nippon Ishin no Kai has established a rule prohibiting its members who hold key government positions (the three top government posts) from speaking about their areas of responsibility during party meetings. This measure comes in response to the appointment of Ishin lawmakers to government roles during the Cabinet reshuffle in September.
Currently, six lawmakers from Nippon Ishin no Kai are involved in government work as ministers, state ministers, or parliamentary vice-ministers. Under the party's new rule, even if these lawmakers attend party policy meetings, they are no longer permitted to express opinions on the policies they are responsible for.
Behind this decision is the desire to avoid situations where lawmakers who are part of the government might place demands on government policy from the party's perspective. The aim appears to be to prevent confusion by clearly separating the roles of the government and the party.
With this decision, Nippon Ishin no Kai will decouple its party activities from the government's policy-making process. Attention is now focused on how these lawmakers holding government posts will conduct themselves within the party moving forward.