兵庫知事の疑惑認定 反省の色も見せぬ無責任
毎日新聞 2025年3月12日
自らの不適切な振る舞いを認めず、反省の色さえ見せない。行政のトップとしての資質を疑わざるを得ない。
斎藤元彦・兵庫県知事のパワーハラスメントなどの疑惑を巡り、県議会調査特別委員会（百条委）が最終報告書をまとめた。
告発文を書いた人物を特定するよう部下に命じ、公表したことが公益通報者保護法違反にあたる可能性を指摘し、「リーダーとして厳正に身を処す」ことを求めた。
ささいなことで職員を怒鳴り、夜間や休日にチャットを送りつける。そうした行為がパワハラに該当しうると結論づけた。
百条委は行政の疑惑を調査するために設置され、通常の委員会より権限が強い。過去に自治体の長や幹部の辞任につながった例もあり、その判断は重い。
しかし、知事は報告書を「一つの見解だ」と軽視するかのような発言を繰り返している。
告発を「うそ八百」と否定し、公益通報として扱わなかった。告発文を作成した元西播磨県民局長は懲戒処分を受けた。
内部告発者の探索や不利益処分を禁じた公益通報者保護法に反する行為である。権限を乱用し、自身の行為への告発を封殺しようとしたことは許されない。元局長への処分は撤回されるべきだ。
告発の信頼性を低下させるような言動も見過ごせない。
報告書を受けた記者会見で、「誹謗（ひぼう）中傷性が高い」と述べただけでなく、「元局長の公用パソコンには倫理的に不適切な文書があった」などと、私的情報を暴露するような発言もした。
告発の内容とは関係のないことである。告発者の人格をおとしめることによって問題をすり替え、自身の行為を正当化しようとするのは言語道断だ。
閣議決定された公益通報者保護法改正案には、今回の問題を受け、内部告発者の保護を強化する条文が盛り込まれた。
元局長と、百条委の委員を務めてネットで中傷を受けた元県議は死亡した。自殺とみられている。
にもかかわらず、知事は一連の対応を「適切だった」と強弁し、責任を認めようとしない。これでは県政の混乱を収束させることは到底できまい。
Hyogo Governor's confirmation of suspicions: irresponsible and showing no sign of remorse
Mainichi Shimbun, March 12, 2025
He has not admitted to his inappropriate behavior, nor has he shown any remorse. One cannot help but question his qualifications as the head of the administration.
The Prefectural Assembly Special Investigation Committee (Hyakujo Committee) has compiled its final report on the allegations of power harassment against Hyogo Governor Saito Motohiko.
It pointed out that ordering his subordinates to identify the person who wrote the accusation letter and making it public may be a violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act, and called for him to "take strict action as a leader."
He yelled at employees over small things and sent them chat messages at night and on holidays. The committee concluded that such actions could constitute power harassment.
The Hyakujo Committee was established to investigate allegations in the administration, and has more authority than a regular committee. In the past, there have been cases where the report led to the resignation of local government heads and executives, so its judgment is heavy.
However, the governor has repeatedly made statements that seem to downplay the report, saying it is "just one opinion."
He denied the allegations as "a hundred lies" and did not treat them as whistleblowers. The former director of the Nishiharima Prefectural Government Bureau, who wrote the accusation, received disciplinary action.
This is against the Whistleblower Protection Act, which prohibits the investigation and unfavorable treatment of whistleblowers. It is unacceptable that he abused his authority to try to silence the accusation against his own actions. The disciplinary action against the former director should be revoked.
Any words or actions that undermine the credibility of the accusation cannot be overlooked.
At the press conference following the report, he not only stated that the report was "highly defamatory," but also made statements that revealed private information, such as "there were ethically inappropriate documents on the former director's official computer."
This has nothing to do with the content of the accusation. It is absolutely unacceptable to try to shift the issue by denigrating the whistleblower's character and justify your own actions.
In response to this issue, the Cabinet approved amendment to the Whistleblower Protection Act included a clause to strengthen protection for whistleblowers.
The former director and the former prefectural assembly member who served as a member of the 100-Article Committee and was slandered online have died. It is believed to be a suicide.
Despite this, the governor insists that his response was "appropriate" and refuses to accept responsibility. This will make it impossible to resolve the chaos in prefectural government.
