Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared on Tuesday he was ready to abandon monetary policy, relaunching an apology for the latest major corruption scandal in the ruling party that had overshadowed his key policies.
His policy speech had been scheduled for Friday during the opening of the new parliamentary session, but Kishida instead had to start the session with an apology on Monday. He acknowledged that factions in the Liberal Democratic Party appeared to be working for money and favour rather than politics, and pledged to spearhead reforms.
I humbly regret, and made a determination to have policy groups make a complete break from money and personnel affairs.
Kishida said he needed to regain public confidence, citing problems including the deadly earthquake on New Year’s Day and the economy. He also pledged to “further expand and deepen” Japan-US relations, which he called the core of Japan’s diplomatic policy. The prime minister plans to visit Washington in April, emphasising Japan’s role in regional peace and stability.
Public support ratings for the Kishida administration have fallen to around 20 per cent, but the LDP is expected to remain in power, as the country’s opposition is too fragmented to provide an alternative.
The LDP has governed post-war Japan almost uninterruptedly and has been repeatedly plagued by corruption scandals followed by promises of a cleaner politics. The latest scandal involves political funds raised through tickets to party events bought by individuals, companies and organisations.
Prosecutors recently filed charges against 10 people, including three lawmakers, although cases against senior officials have been withdrawn. Kishida acknowledged on Monday that at least 37 lawmakers were adjusting the accounting of their political funds at the moment.
The ruling lawmakers argue that revenues from fundraising events provide crucial income to cover the cost of elections and other political activities. They also deny hiding or pocketing unreported income. However, legal experts claim the Political Funds Control Law has many loopholes.
Kishida announced the dissolution of his faction in the wake of the scandal and set up an internal working group to push for reforms. Critics say the real problem is not factions but backroom deals, often based on lawmakers’ ties to voters in their constituencies.
The incumbent prime minister won’t have to call parliamentary elections until 2025, but his party has scheduled a leadership vote for September.
