Hiroshi Kamiwaki, a professor at Kobe Gakuin University who specializes in election law, commenting after former Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa was criticized for giving chocolates to senior ministry officials on Valentine’s Day.
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She is an Upper House lawmaker in a Tokyo electoral district. Giving chocolates for free could be considered donations that are banned in the Public Offices Election Law.
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virusrex
In a way this feels like exaggeration in following the letter of the law instead of the intention, but as long as it does not really becomes something big it may become a good precedent, a harmless thing that happened and helped making it clear that even these small gifts are included in the election law so if something actually suspicious happen (like luxury gifts between ministry officials at both dates) there will be no excuse.
wallace
Politicians need to be very careful about what gifts they give. I was given a monetary gift from a politician friend but then I don't have a vote.
Shivaji
Politicians are special and that is what you sign up for.
wanderlust
Put them in a brown envelope - that will take care of it.