外国人参加の住民投票条例案否決　権利付与に懸念―東京・武蔵野市

　東京都武蔵野市議会本会議で２１日、外国人の住民投票参加を認める条例案が採決され、反対多数で否決された。１３日の市議会総務委員会では可決されたが、一部に外国人参政権の付与につながるとの懸念があり、市民への周知不足を理由に「時期尚早だ」との意見も相次ぎ、本会議採決では反対が上回った。（2021/12/21-15:30）

The assembly of the city of Musashino in Tokyo at a plenary meeting Tuesday voted down a proposed ordinance for allowing foreign residents to vote in referendums in the city.
   Although the general affairs committee of the assembly passed the ordinance Dec. 13, assembly members opposing it outnumbered those in favor in the vote at the plenary meeting. Some of the opponents voiced concerns over granting political franchise to foreigners while others said the move is premature because of a lack of public awareness.
   The proposed ordinance called for allowing both Japanese and foreigners aged 18 or over living in Musashino for at least three months to vote in local referendums. It also stipulated, among other things, that a referendum must be held if the city plans to merge with another municipality.
   If adopted, the local ordinance would have been the third of its kind in Japan, after those in the city of Zushi in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, and in the city of Toyonaka in the western prefecture of Osaka.
   Prior to Tuesday's vote, a caucus led by the Liberal Democratic Party, Japan's ruling party, criticized the draft ordinance as giving political franchise to foreigners in a broad sense. A caucus led by Komeito, the coalition partner of the LDP, also opposed the ordinance, saying that it has not won citizens' understanding.