「500万を茶封筒で」新証言と深まる謎　福岡県議会の金銭授受疑惑

A scandal involving alleged bribery surrounding the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly is causing widespread repercussions. While Assemblyman Yoshimatsu Gensho, at the center of the allegations, denounces the system as having a "extortionist culture," Deputy Speaker Nakao Masayuki maintains that the allegations are baseless, resulting in a clash of opinions. This confusion has drawn harsh criticism from Osaka Prefecture Governor Yoshimura, who stated that Fukuoka "cannot become a secondary capital," and the matter has also been pursued in the National Diet, with calls for accountability coming from within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Amidst this, new testimony has emerged. A former deputy speaker, who is not affiliated with the LDP, confessed to handing Speaker Kurauchi a brown envelope containing 5 million yen in the past for the position of Speaker, and to having covered over 1 million yen in expenses such as golf. Speaker Kurauchi completely denies the allegations and has also denied resigning. The LDP prefectural chapter and its executives strongly deny the allegations, and attention is focused on efforts to uncover the truth, including the start of an investigation involving all assembly members. July 17, 2026 ▼Daily news delivered: TVQ News Site https://www.tvq.co.jp/news/ #Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly #Vice Speaker #Speaker Kurauchi