Rift opens in Japan’s LDP leadership after Kishida compromises; Two key allies are showing dissatisfaction with the prime minister

A rift emerged between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is also chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party, and the party’s Vice President Taro Aso and Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, after a bill to revise the Law on the Control of Political Funds passed the House on Thursday of Delegates had approved.

During negotiations to amend the bill, Kishida fully accepted a request from LDP coalition partner Komeito, while Aso and Motegi were wary of making a major compromise. The LDP leadership has become dysfunctional and Kishida’s government is on weaker footing than ever.

Subheading: ¥50,000 threshold

“We carefully discussed the matter with Komeito and then drafted the bill. Some people may say the bill is ineffective, but they are completely wrong,” Kishida proudly told reporters at the Prime Minister’s office after the bill was passed by the lower house.

However, Kishida accepted a request from Komeito to lower the threshold at which information about those who buy tickets for political fundraising parties is made public. That threshold will drop from the current ¥200,000 to ¥50,000 in ticket purchases. This caused an erosion of confidence among Aso and Motegi, both pillars of the Kishida government.

“Is there anything you would like to say?” Kishida asked during a three-way conversation with Aso and Motegi, prior to an LDP board meeting in the Diet Building on Monday. However, they responded with silence, expressing their deep dissatisfaction with Kishida for compromising too much with Komeito.

Subheading: 20 minutes of protest

“What are you talking about? Working-level officials have already agreed with Komeito. It is not normal for higher-ups to change that agreement,” Aso told Kishida by phone.

On the evening of May 30, Aso heard that Kishida and Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi would hold a meeting and protested with Kishida by telephone for about 20 minutes. Aso’s anger stemmed from Kishida ignoring concerns he and Motegi had raised the night before when the three met at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo.

At the May 29 meeting, Aso argued that young lawmakers would struggle to raise money unless the disclosure threshold was kept at ¥100,000, as specified in an LDP bill. “Given Komeito’s need to maintain the coalition, it could not vote against the bill,” Motegi added. “Even if they abstain, we can pass the bill by getting support from Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party).” Kishida showed understanding for this view.

Subheading: The mind changes overnight

Because the LDP does not have a majority in the House of Councilors, Kishida was concerned that if Komeito did not compromise, he could be more demanding if the bill were moved to the upper house.

This caused Kishida to change his mind. “If we fail to pass the law, the party will end,” Kishida told Aso by phone.

The disagreement between Kishida and the two executives could last some time. Aso reportedly told his aides about his irritation.

For Kishida, the deterioration of his relationship with Aso is serious. Aso considers himself Kishida’s guardian and has brought the prime minister and Motegi, a potential successor to Kishida, closer together. Although many factions have decided to disband in the wake of the political funds scandal, Aso has retained his 55-member faction and will have significant influence in the next LDP presidential elections.

Some LDP members believe that Aso would not abandon Kishida because he values ​​Kishida’s ability to handle domestic and diplomatic affairs. However, some members of the Aso faction are dissatisfied with Kishida for repeatedly betraying the faction and the sudden announcement that the Kishida faction would be disbanded. As criticism of Kishida increases within the Aso faction, Aso may create a clear distance between himself and Kishida.