Stimmungleichgewicht und Wahlrecht in Japan: Die Entscheidung des OGH vom 20. November 2013

Abstract

The Supreme Court of Japan rendered a decision on 20 November 2013 that deals with vote weight disparity and approves the Lower House general election of December 2012. Following its decision of 2011 concerning the last Lower House election, the court ruled that the election was in a state of unconstitutionality in that it was violating the principle of vote weight equality. One year and nine months had passed between the last ruling and the latest election. However, the court still ruled that the reasonable period of time to redress the disparities had not yet passed and the election was therefore not unconstitutional. The Supreme Court thereby opposed two of the first instance decisions. The High Court Hiroshima and its Okayama branch had not only declared the election unconstitutional but also nullified its outcome. This article deals with the problem of vote weight disparity in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision.

(The Editors)