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On the morning of the 19th, people lined up in front of the entrance to the Hyogo Prefectural Government Office. Governor Saito Motohiko (47), who had returned to this place for the first time in about 50 days, appeared there. He shook hands with each person, some of whom were seen wiping away tears. Many of the people waiting at the entrance were believed to be ordinary citizens, such as supporters. After that, Governor Saito received his certificate of election and went to the inauguration ceremony where prefectural officials were waiting. In a survey by the 100 Articles Committee, about 40% of prefectural officials answered that they had seen or heard about the governor's power harassment. The first words he spoke to the employees were "words of apology." Governor Saito Motohiko: I am also very sorry that I have caused many employees anxiety and worry about the prefectural government. What do prefectural officials think when they hear this? Hyogo Prefectural Government Official: I think there are many problems within the office, such as "resentment" from the past, so even though the election is over, I think there is still a lot to do. (Q. Can we expect anything from you?) I would be in trouble if you don't do it. The "power of SNS" was the driving force behind Governor Saito's comeback. On the other hand, its negative side is also beginning to become visible. At the 100-Article Committee meeting on the 18th, when it was decided to request the Governor to appear for questioning, the following scene occurred. Prefectural assembly member Takeuchi Hideaki, who was also a member of the 100-Article Committee, was absent from the meeting, so when asked "Have you heard the reason?" the secretariat responded, "He submitted his resignation to the chairman today." The main reason was that he had been "defamed on SNS and other platforms." On the 19th, a member of the Ishiba Cabinet also expressed concern about the influence of radical SNS posts on elections. At a press conference held at 3:00 pm on the 19th, a reporter asked Governor Saito about these issues. Reporter: Governor Saito said that he was considering enacting an SNS ordinance in October 2023. At that time, he said, "I felt very scared and horrified, and it is necessary to address the problem of false spreading and slander on social media." Governor Saito: Regarding the enactment of the SNS ordinance, I would like to proceed with preparations and considerations on how to proceed. FNN Prime Online https://www.fnn.jp/