TOKYO - Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party reprimanded former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and three other lawmakers on November 9th for leaving the House of Representatives before a vote on legislation to reduce the consumption tax on food, as party leaders sought to prevent further defections that could jeopardize the bill's passage through the upper house.
The decision was made at a meeting of senior LDP officials attended by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, following the four lawmakers' departure from the lower house plenary session on November 6th, shortly before the vote on the proposed tax reduction.
The party leadership had demanded written explanations from all four lawmakers, setting a deadline of noon on November 9th. According to party officials, all four submitted their responses before the deadline.
Ishiba defended his decision by arguing that the legislation lacked a credible plan to replace the revenue that would be lost through the consumption tax reduction.
"I believe it would be extremely problematic for people who need social security, and for the public as a whole, if that revenue were lost without identifying alternative sources of funding," Ishiba said.
Asked whether he would accept any disciplinary action imposed by the party, Ishiba declined to make a commitment. "I don't know what will happen. That is a decision for the party leadership, and it is not for us to comment on it," he said.
Former Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa also questioned the financial basis of the legislation, saying the government had failed to provide sufficient information to allow lawmakers to make an informed decision.
"No concrete evidence has been presented regarding how the necessary funding will be secured in a way that would enable us to judge whether to support or oppose the bill," Furukawa said in his written response.
He also argued that the overall framework of the proposed system had not been clearly explained, making it impossible to provide the public with an adequate account of the policy.
However, Furukawa acknowledged the consequences of his actions for the party, saying he took seriously the trouble he had caused the LDP.
Another lawmaker, Hajime Funada, said he had concluded that he could not support the legislation after examining the yen's weakness, price trends and the substance of the bill.
A senior government official emphasized the seriousness of the walkout, saying that leaving the chamber during a vote subject to party discipline was a significant breach of responsibility.
The leadership's principal concern is that the four lawmakers' actions could influence voting behavior in the House of Councillors, where deliberations on the tax reduction legislation are scheduled to begin on November 11th.
Unlike the lower house, the upper house is controlled by neither the LDP nor its governing allies, leaving the government vulnerable to defections or abstentions. If lawmakers leave the chamber or refuse to vote during the final plenary session, the legislation could be rejected.
A senior LDP official in the upper house warned that failing to discipline the four lawmakers would weaken party control and potentially complicate negotiations with opposition parties.
"Unless disciplinary action is taken, we will not be able to maintain discipline in the upper house. It will also affect our efforts to secure cooperation from the opposition," the official said.
Following the leadership meeting, LDP Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki announced that all four lawmakers would receive formal reprimands under party rules.
"Their actions cannot be overlooked from the standpoint of maintaining party unity," Suzuki said. "We have decided to issue formal reprimands to the four lawmakers under the party's regulations, and they have already been informed of the decision."
Suzuki added that the leadership would take further steps to ensure that party discipline and internal order were not undermined.
The decision also covers former Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi, the fourth lawmaker who left the chamber before the November 6th vote.
The reprimand marks an unusual disciplinary action against a former LDP president, reflecting the leadership's determination to contain internal opposition before the legislation reaches the upper house.
With the ruling parties lacking a majority in the House of Councillors, the government faces a more difficult challenge in securing passage of the tax reduction bill, making party unity and cooperation from opposition lawmakers critical to its prospects.
Source: TBS
