Tokyo, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court ruled Friday that a public offices election law provision that prohibits minors from engaging in campaigning activities and imposes penalties on violators is unconstitutional. In the lawsuit filed by four people against the government, however, the court rejected the plaintiffs’ damages claim. They argued in the suit that the provision violates the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. This is the first lawsuit ever challenging the constitutionality of the provision. The plaintiffs, who were aged 16 to 18 when they filed the lawsuit in February last year, argued that they had given up activities supporting candidates during the official campaign periods for past public offices elections due to the provision. One of them said that the provision works to “discourage young people from participating in politics.” The government counter-argued that the provision is designed to protect minors from unjust election campaigns and is therefore sufficiently reasonable. The provision prohibiting individuals under 18 from campaigning independently was introduced in 1952. Violators would face an imprisonment of up to 12 months or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
