15 Million Yen in Gift Certificates Distributed
Prime Minister Denies Political Contribution Allegations
Opposition Presses on Possible Violation of Political Funds Control Act
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, whose political standing is unstable, has undermined himself by distributing gift certificates worth a total of 15 million yen to first-term lawmakers. Although Prime Minister Ishiba explained that this was not a political donation, the opposition plans to intensively question him, alleging possible violations of the Political Funds Control Act.
According to a nationwide opinion poll conducted by Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun from the 14th to the 16th, the Ishiba Cabinet recorded a support rate of 31%. This marks an 8 percentage point drop from 39% in the February survey, the lowest since the cabinet's launch last October. The percentage of respondents who do not support the cabinet rose to 58%, up 15 percentage points from 43% last month. Regarding the issue of the Ishiba Prime Minister's Office distributing gift certificates to Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, 75% responded that it was "a problem," while only 19% said it was "not a problem." In relation to this issue, 69% answered that "Prime Minister Ishiba bears great responsibility," significantly outnumbering the 26% who said "he does not bear much responsibility."
Since its launch last October, the Ishiba Cabinet's approval rating has hovered in the 30-40% range, which is not very high but has been considered relatively stable. However, some analyses suggest that if the Ishiba Cabinet's approval rating falls to the 20% range, calls for his resignation ahead of the House of Councillors election could intensify.
Earlier, on the 3rd, Prime Minister Ishiba held a meeting with 15 first-term members of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party at the Prime Minister's official residence in Tokyo, during which gift certificates worth 100,000 yen (approximately 980,000 won) per person were distributed through his secretary. The total amount was about 15 million yen. After Asahi Shimbun reported this, Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged the fact but insisted there was no legal issue, describing the gift certificates as "substitutes for dinner."
The opposition's attacks are intensifying. Mizooka Shunichi, a member of the Constitutional Democratic Party, criticized on the NHK program that the gift certificates were distributed at the Prime Minister's residence in the presence of the Chief Secretary and others, saying, "It is hard to see this as anything other than a political donation." Takeomi Keizo, the Liberal Democratic Party's House of Councillors Secretary-General, called the amount "out of touch with the public's sensibilities," while Tanigai Masaaki, the Komeito Party's House of Councillors Secretary-General, emphasized, "The Prime Minister must provide an explanation that the public can accept and take moral responsibility." Tamaki Yuichiro, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, stated, "The Prime Minister himself is in a legally ambiguous situation," and demanded, "He should appear before the Political Ethics Committee and explain directly." The opposition plans to strongly question Prime Minister Ishiba during the focused deliberations of the House of Councillors Budget Committee scheduled for the 17th.
Even within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, there are voices of concern predicting the possibility of Prime Minister Ishiba's defeat in the upcoming July House of Councillors election. According to Kyodo News and Jiji Press, on the 12th, House of Councillors member Nishida Shoji argued at a House of Councillors meeting, "We cannot fight the House of Councillors election under the current system," and called for the election of a new party president to replace Ishiba, the party president. This is interpreted as a move to oust Prime Minister Ishiba amid the political scandal.
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