Sohei Kamiya, the leader of the Sanseito party, which advocates for a "Japanese First" platform, addressed a controversy regarding a party staff member. The staff member was criticized for allowing an Upper House election candidate to be interviewed by a Russian state-owned news agency.
Kamiya publicly stated that he had not authorized the interview. He made these comments on a television program on July 15th. The Russian agency's Japanese-language service had previously published a video interview with the Sanseito candidate, Saya, on social media.
Saya, who is running in the Tokyo constituency in the upcoming election, discussed her reasons for representing the "Japanese First" party in the video. Kamiya expressed his disapproval of the situation, calling it "outrageous."
The Russian government has faced criticism for utilizing Sputnik as a propaganda tool. The European Union has imposed sanctions, blocking its services due to the spread of disinformation related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On July 16th, speaking to reporters in Toyama, Kamiya clarified that he would not hold Saya responsible for her participation in the interview. He emphasized that the primary issue was the staff member's failure to adhere to the party's guidelines.
5 Comments
Manolo Noriega
Why would a Japanese party be giving interviews to a news agency blocked by the EU for spreading disinformation? Red flags, everywhere!
Fuerza
Saya is a brave candidate. It's important to hear from all candidates, regardless of which news agency they are interviewed at.
Manolo Noriega
Kamiya's outrage feels performative. Why not just openly support a candidate willing to speak to a known propaganda outlet for a foreign power, or admit he was aware, if it happened under his orders, and explain why?
Ongania
Kamiya's decisive statements show excellent leadership. He dealt with the events promptly.
Fuerza
The staff member probably should have been vetted, and has now put the party in a difficult position. This shows an inability to manage.