Japan’s parliament has expelled an MP from a single-issue party, Yoshikazu Higashitani, known by his online pseudonym GaaSyy, after he failed to show up for work.
According to Al Jazeera, Higashitani has become the first MP expelled due to persistent absence by Japan’s parliament in more than 70 years.
Higashitani is one of two members elected from the Seijika Joshi 48, or “Politician Girls 48” opposition party.
The party was formerly known as the NHK Party and campaigns for changes to Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK.
Since being elected in July 2022, Higashitani has failed to attend a single session.
Higashitani has been nicknamed “No-show MP”. He is a former businessman and YouTuber, famous for his celebrity gossip videos.
He has remained in Dubai, claiming he is at risk of arrest if he returns to Japan.
Higashitani faces questioning over alleged defamation of some Japanese celebrities related to his YouTube videos.
Last week, the Japanese Parliament asked him to apologise in person in the Tokyo chamber, but he did not travel to Japan.
Instead, Higashitani announced on his YouTube channel that he was going to Turkey and that he planned to donate his salary to Turkish earthquake relief.
Hamada Satoshi, the other member of Seijika Joshi 48, said Higashitani’s expulsion from Parliament was illegal.
The lawmaker will be replaced in the house by another member of the party.
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