16:43 JST, June 20, 2024
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida effectively ruled out the dissolution of the House of Representatives before a general election on Wednesday, a move prompted by the strong political winds buffeting his government.
Kishida’s repeated concessions during discussions on changes to the Law on the Control of Political Funds have weakened the foundations of his government, as public opinion was highly critical of the revisions he accepted, which were proposed after a wave of scandals over funds within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. .
A revised version of the law was passed by the Diet earlier that day. During a debate among political party leaders in the Diet, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Kenta Izumi pressured LDP President Kishida to “ask for a mandate from the people” on whether the amended law was “good or bad”. ” Kishida rejected this demand, saying: “I will focus on tackling various problems, starting with the economy, and on achieving results. I don’t think about anything else.”
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) answers a question from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Kenta Izumi during their debate in parliament on Wednesday.
Kishida also threw a few comments of his own at Izumi and the CDPJ, who proposed banning corporate donations, political fundraising parties and spending on political activities.
“Banning this, that and the other could feel really good,” Kishida said. “But political funds are an extremely important element that supports democracy.” Kishida twisted the knife even further by adding, “Your party talks about banning these things, but you organize fundraising parties and receive donations from unions.”
During discussions between government and opposition parties about possible law revisions, Kishida had often bowed to pressure from, among others, the LDP’s ruling coalition partner Komeito and the opposition Japan Innovation Party. “We were always one step behind, and we couldn’t even protect the things we should have protected,” grumbled a veteran member of the LDP faction led by party Vice President Taro Aso. The opposition also criticized the revised law, with one party member saying: “It is full of loopholes and totally inadequate.”
The debate also gave Kishida the opportunity to ask his own questions to opposition leaders. The Prime Minister used this phase to try to emphasize that the latest law reforms were “the most realistic” option.
Izumi bluntly gave the revised law an “unsatisfactory grade” and demanded that Kishida dissolve the lower house. The public is also unimpressed by the LDP’s revisions to the law. A national Yomiuri Shimbun survey conducted in May found that nearly 80% of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of the amendments.
“The Prime Minister going on the attack during the leadership debate was a sign of his desperation, but I doubt it will resonate much with the public,” a senior LDP official admitted.
‘Attacked from all sides’
The Japan Innovation Party supported the LDP’s legislative changes in the House of Representatives, but then voted against it in the House of Councilors due to disagreements over the monthly allowance for research, study, public relations and housing for lawmakers.
JIP leader Nobuyuki Baba suggested that Kishida extend the Diet session if he “really wanted to do this.” However, Kishida would only say that while he had not specified a time limit, his hope that it would happen as soon as possible was “completely sincere.”
Kishida’s term as LDP president expires at the end of September. However, difficulties in coordinating the law reforms have led to divisions within the party’s leadership, and there appears to be little prospect of Kishida’s government rising in the polls. Several party leaders ridiculed Kishida’s predicament during the debate.
“Many LDP lawmakers complain about the prime minister. The Kishida cabinet has exhausted all its options,” Baba said. “I urge the entire Cabinet to resign and pass the baton to a Prime Minister who can take responsibility and get the job done.”
When Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the People’s Democratic Party, described Kishida as “under attack from all sides,” the prime minister gave an answer that seemed as much for his own ears as for anyone else’s.
“I don’t feel like I’m being attacked from all sides,” Kishida insisted. “It is a politician’s responsibility to do what needs to be done, even if he is criticized.”
