Japan's 3rd Opposition Party Suspends Leader Tamaki for 3 Months Over Adultery Admission

Japan's third-largest opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People, has imposed a three-month suspension on its leader, Tamaki Yuichiro, who bowed his head after admitting to an extramarital affair scandal with a female talent.

According to NHK and other sources on the 5th, the Democratic Party for the People held a general meeting of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors the previous day and unanimously decided on this disciplinary action. Shinba Kazuya, the party secretary-general, explained the reason for the discipline, saying, "It can only be said that he damaged the party's honor and trust." During the suspension period, the party leadership duties will be carried out by acting leader Furukawa Motohisa. It is reported that Tamaki will return as leader after the suspension ends on March 4 next year.

The Democratic Party for the People, which has advocated for resolving the "1.03 million yen annual income barrier," significantly increased its seats in the House of Representatives from 7 to 28 in the general election held last October, while the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito failed to secure a majority, thus holding the casting vote in the policy decision-making process.

The extramarital affair article about leader Tamaki was reported by the weekly magazine Smart Flash on the 11th of last month, when the special Diet session to nominate the next prime minister was convened. In response, Tamaki immediately issued an official apology, stating, "The reported content is largely true." Despite this revelation, the Democratic Party for the People, which held the casting vote in the next prime minister nomination process, maintained Tamaki's leadership position and proceeded with the prime minister nomination vote.