Japan Innovation Party expels lawmaker Suzuki over Russia trip

… the veteran lawmaker, who hails Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido and used to belong to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, …

Missing from this story is the fact that Muneo Suzuki is a certified crook who was convicted of taking bribes, failure to declare political donations, and perjury in 2004. He was sentenced to two years in prison and fined ¥11 million. He appealed, lost his appeal, and was paroled in 2011 after serving one year of prison. He was banned from public office until 2017. His secretary was also convicted of bribery.

All parties might be better without him.

He is a complete nut job!

Suzuki has done nothing wrong, this dismissal of a politician is the most undemocratic decision. What is the purpose of an opposition party for if she has to bound with the policy ruling party?

He is a complete nut job!

No he is a complete realist.

Missing from this story is the fact that Muneo Suzuki is a certified crook who was convicted of taking bribes, failure to declare political donations, and perjury in 2004. He was sentenced to two years in prison and fined ¥11 million. He appealed, lost his appeal, and was paroled in 2011 after serving one year of prison. He was banned from public office until 2017. His secretary was also convicted of bribery.

And yet was re-elected by the people of Hokkaido who know that he will bring money to their prefecture.

He will stand as an independent and win a landslide...again.

It’s true that Ukraine is losing and nato looking for a way to back out of this conflict

So innovative so they can expel they own member.

elephant200

Today 06:52 am JST

Suzuki has done nothing wrong, this dismissal of a politician is the most undemocratic decision.

He's still a Diet member until his constituents decide otherwise.

What is the purpose of an opposition party for if she has to bound with the policy ruling party?

If a politician agrees with a policy he or she should support it regardless of party affiliation.

Suzuki ? Visiting Russia ? To Return to Japan Saying That Russia Will Surely Win the War in Ukraine? Sack Him! Banish Him from Japan! And No Country Will Allow His Plane To Land!

Bye bye Muneo - convicted, jailed crook. Makes sense that he'd support criminal, fascist Russia.

What a dumb ass! Where do these wieners come from?

"Deterrence" hasn't worked at all with this piece of work.

He shouldn't even be in government. He was a convicted criminal.

SpeedToday  09:42 am JST

He shouldn't even be in government. He was a convicted criminal.

Suzuki was just unlucky that he got caught. If every Diet member who took bribes committed related offences was caught, the chambers of Japan's parliament would be pretty close to empty.

elephant200Today 06:52 am JST

this dismissal of a politician is the most undemocratic decision.

He was removed as he visited Russia without informing the party first, and for supporting Russia in opposition to the party's official policy. It sounds like he broke party rules, which is reason for his removal and quite the opposite of "undemocratic." He may also have resigned himself, rather than being removed, as mentioned in the article.

Perhaps you would prefer him to be killed, as regularly happens in Russia (Prigozhin, Gerashchenko, Maganov, Protosenya, etc.), or disappeared, as regularly happens in China (Li Shangfu, Qin Gang, Meng Hongwei, etc.)?

There is "crazy" and then there is "so crazy that even the Japan Innovation Party wants nothing to do with you".

Which is a very high level of crazy to achieve.

At 75 anyone should be retired and enjoying life.

If any politician accepts bribes and it's proved at court, should be banned to exercise political activities for life.

Why is this even allowed to happen? The travel to Russia sounds way less important compared to his age and past activities...

Good riddance❗

If you don't follow rules, this is what happens you silly old man!!

He was previously convicted for bribery, ran for office a few years after his release and lost, jumped on the Japan Innovation Party bandwagon to get support to win, and now back to his old tricks of doing things his own way.

As an independent spewing more rubbish supporting Russia, he will be . . . .gone. . . in the next election. A landslide win next time, some say,. . . Yeah right!!

I made the decision (to leave the party)

So he was not expelled then?

he will stay on as an upper house member and continue his political activities as an independent

Apparently not.

he is "100 percent" confident that Moscow will win the war

Maybe a bit overconfident...

the veteran lawmaker, who hails Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido

Then, he can aid Russia conquering Hokkaido, after they win the war with Ukraine?

Japan Times wrote the headline as basically "Suzuki Leaves Opposition Party", which gives one a very different impression.

Will miss his unpleasant speaking voice.

nice job!

If a Russian lawmaker did this he would be banned from office.

Dispelled from the party without permission what a joke. Wise of him quitting the Japan innovative party, He is better off as an independent.

He is spot on that Russia will defeat the U.S and its vassal states in Nato in Ukraine. The European especially Germany are willing to maintain sanctions on Russia even if it means the suffer, the Germans are supposed to be annoyed at the U.S for Nordstream pipeline.

Everyone knew from the outset that this guy is a Russiaophile.

Japan Innovation Party should never have accepted this clown as a representative in the first place… I say that as someone who feels the Japan Innovation Party’s policies most closely match my own…

Just as well I don’t get a vote, because this sort of bad judgement is enough to make a voter disillusioned.

@drlucifer I guess you are drinking the Putin juice!!! LMFAO you wrote he is better off as an independent perhaps you are right on that one (a independent thinker, and crook) living in Hokkaido perhaps he is a paid MOLE!!!! I hope you can clean that spot you are talking about do you really believe Russia will defeat the U.S and NATO? Russia can barely make bullets its sad when you can only get one country a rogue one to support you. Even China doesn't look at Russia as a threat, perhaps Russia better watch China because China will get land back that Russia to from China. Its just a matter of time before someone pulls the trigger on the spot that is on Putin. He's has too many enemies within.

Dispelled from the party without permission what a joke. Wise of him quitting the Japan innovative party, He is better off as an independent.

He is spot on that Russia will defeat the U.S and its vassal states in Nato in Ukraine. The European especially Germany are willing to maintain sanctions on Russia even if it means the suffer, the Germans are supposed to be annoyed at the U.S for Nordstream pipeline.

Fredrik

Then, he can aid Russia conquering Hokkaido, after they win the war with Ukraine?

Has Russia already declared its claims on Hokkaido?

Missing from this story is the fact that Muneo Suzuki is a certified crook who was convicted of taking bribes, failure to declare political donations, and perjury in 2004.

Sounds like a typical Japanese politician to me. In fact, most politicians of any country I am very familiar with. the difference would seem to be that other politicians decided to out him for some reason.

The fact he is the only lawmaker to visit Russia is pretty disheartening though. He may not have the best reasons for doing that, but, issue with Russia will neither go away by magic nor by some stupid military campaign. Maintaining relations is VITAL, and if he is the only who sees that, then I have to advocate for him. Everyone else is just being a childish moron to think Japan's security or interests are served by jilting Russia entirely. Its obviously the complete opposite. Russia is Japan's closest neighbor. Like it or not, its a fact, and one that cannot just be ignored like some teenage high school interpersonal drama.