Upper house member Anri Kawai, who was found guilty last month of vote buying in the 2019 election, resigned as a lawmaker on Wednesday, dealing a further blow to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration already suffering from falling approval ratings.
Kawai, who left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party due to the allegation, chose to quit before the two-week period allowed to file an appeal in her case ends Thursday. She would have been removed as a lawmaker automatically if and when the court ruling is finalized.
After her resignation was submitted to parliament, the 47-year-old Kawai said in a statement that while she is not satisfied with the ruling, she will not file an appeal, adding, "It is not my intention to further prolong the legal battle and cause confusion."
Kawai won a seat in the House of Councillors with the strong backing of Suga, at the time chief Cabinet secretary, and then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The LDP provided 150 million yen ($1.4 million) to Kawai's camp ahead of the election's official campaign, and Suga made appearances at her stump speeches.
Speaking to reporters at his office, Suga said he "takes seriously" the fact that public confidence in politics has fallen as a result of the vote-buying scandal.
"As politicians, we have to be aware of our obligations and ensure the people have no reason to doubt us," he said.
Kawai's resignation addressed to House of Councillors President Akiko Santo was approved during an upper house plenary session in the evening.
Her husband Katsuyuki Kawai, a 57-year-old former justice minister and a lower house member, is also standing trial over the vote-buying scandal.
On Jan. 21, the Tokyo District Court sentenced Anri Kawai to 16 months in prison, suspended for five years, for conspiring with her husband, who also left the LDP, to violate the election law by handing out 1.6 million yen ($15,200) in total to four Hiroshima prefectural assembly members between March and May in 2019.
She denied all charges against her.
As her resignation vacates a House of Councillors seat representing Hiroshima Prefecture in western Japan, a by-election to choose her replacement is slated to be held April 25, the same date set for by-elections in Hokkaido and Nagano.
The upcoming by-elections are expected to provide a gauge on the prospects for Suga, whose public support has been falling in part over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, although the LDP will not field a candidate in the House of Representatives race in Hokkaido.
LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai said in a statement the development is "extremely regrettable" and that the ruling party will make efforts to regain the public's trust.
