ID :
538666
Mon, 07/22/2019 - 01:23
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org/index.php//node/538666
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2 Severely Disabled Candidates Win Upper House Seats
Tokyo, July 22 (Jiji Press)--Two severely disabled candidates of political group Reiwa Shinsengumi won seats in the Japanese House of Councillors election Sunday.
One is wheelchair-bound Yasuhiko Funago, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease.
"I hope people will look closely at me and reconsider what is truly necessary assistance," he said in a prepared message read out by his helper at a news conference Sunday night.
Reiwa Shinsengumi leader Taro Yamamoto praised efforts of group members and supporters, saying, "You've made the first move toward building a society that does not let any members measured by productivity."
The other candidate is Eiko Kimura with severe disabilities, who also uses a wheelchair.
At a news conference in the small hours of Monday, Kimura said she is "looking forward" to experiencing how she would be treated by other lawmakers.
Both were elected under a proportional representation special quota system that allows parties to give priority to specific candidates.
It will be necessary to improve barrier-free access in and around the parliamentary buildings.
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