Mio Sugita's Candidacy in the Upper House Election Sparks Controversy
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) decision to field former lawmaker Mio Sugita in the upcoming Upper House election has generated significant backlash due to her history of discriminatory remarks. Sugita was introduced as a candidate at the LDP convention on March 9, a day after being placed on the party's proportional representation list.
Sugita's past comments have raised concerns about her human rights awareness. In a 2016 blog post, she made derogatory remarks about ethnic Korean residents and indigenous Ainu people who attended a U.N. conference in traditional costumes. In 2023, these remarks were officially recognized as a violation of human rights. Additionally, in a 2018 magazine article, Sugita referred to same-sex couples as "unproductive" due to their inability to have children.
Despite these controversies, Sugita has gained support from conservative constituents and received backing from former senior members of the Abe faction within the LDP. However, the party leadership has urged Sugita to engage in thorough self-reflection and pay more attention to her conduct. They have also emphasized that the LDP does not condone her discriminatory remarks.
The decision to include Sugita on the party ticket has been met with criticism from both within and outside the LDP. Some members believe that her candidacy could cost the party votes, while others argue that she owes the public a fuller explanation for her past remarks. Ultimately, voters will decide in the upcoming election whether the LDP's decision to field Sugita was appropriate.