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On July 3, the DPJ Standing Officers Council held its 556th meeting in the Diet building. Acting Secretary General Shinji Tarutoko requested that the Council accept the leave of DPJ House of Representatives members Tomoyuki Taira (Kyoto 1st district) and Tsutomu Takamura (Chugoku PR Bloc) following the submission of letters of secession in accordance with party stipulations. The two letters were accepted.
Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi submitted a draft action plan regarding the DPJ Diet members who did not follow the party resolution on the vote for legislation related to the comprehensive reform of the social security and taxation systems on June 26. The meeting approved the draft plan and confirmed that the DPJ Ethics Committee would begin work on the matter promptly. The meeting also decided that a special meeting of the Standing Officers Council would be held after the Ethics Committee reviewed the plan. The details are as follows:
1. The Standing Officers Council will consult the Ethics Committee about expelling 37 members of the House of Representatives who submitted letters of secession. The Standing Officers Council approved letters of secession from 12 members of the House of Councillors that day.
2. 18 of the 19 members of the House of Representatives who voted against the legislation but will stay in the party will be placed on probation for two months. One other member, a former president of the DPJ, will be placed on probation for six months.
3. The Standing Officers Council will issue a severe warning to the 12 members of the House of Representatives who missed or abstained from open votes for three pieces of legislation. For the three members who missed or abstained from voting on the tax increase proposal, a severe warning will be issued under the name of the Secretary General.
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