Japanese council votes to remove unconscious mayor

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A council in Japan has voted to remove its mayor who has been unconscious for several months.

Kikuo Hatakeyama, 72, has served as the mayor of Hachirogata in north-east Japan since 2008, but fell ill in February and suffered a brain hemorrhage.

The town assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against the mayor meaning he will automatically lose his position on 19 May.

Japan's national association of town and village assemblies says it's rare for a no-confidence motion to be filed against a mayor due to illness.

The motion said removing Hatakeyama was a tough choice, but administratively necessary.

His wife asked the town assembly last month to assess whether he could continue in his post, saying that it would be the best option for him to resign as mayor, according to the Japan Times.

Local law requires mayors who want to resign to notify the assembly chair of their intention. The town government last month said that a resignation request submitted by family members would be invalid, the Japan Times added.

Therefore a no-confidence motion was agreed as the quickest way for the mayor to be removed.

An election to choose his successor is expected to be held within 50 days.

Hachirogata is in Akita prefecture and has a population of around 5,000 people.

One member of the council represents the district on the Akita Prefectural Assembly.

Surrounded by vast rice fields, agriculture and commercial fishing drive the local economy.