Ishiba, Obuchi and others reprimanded, abstaining from voting, wary of influence on House of Councilors - Liberal Democratic Party

On the 9th, the Liberal Democratic Party decided to reprimand four members, including former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former campaign committee chair Yuko Obuchi, who abstained from voting on the consumption tax reduction bill at a plenary session of the House of Representatives. According to the party, this is the first time that a former prime minister has been punished based on party rules. There are voices within the party that are wary that even if the ruling party is in a minority in the House of Councilors vote, there may be rebels, and the decision was made that certain disciplinary action was necessary.

Liberal Democratic Party Executive Office demands explanation from Ishiba and others about abstention on tax reduction bill vote

Those who left the plenary session on the 6th and abstained from voting were Messrs. Ishiba and Obuchi, as well as former Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa and former Economic Planning Agency Director Gen Funada. At the request of the executive committee, the four submitted a document to the party explaining the circumstances behind their abstention. Based on this, Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki and others decided on the punishment.

According to the party's rules and regulations, the secretary-general can take the following actions against members of the Diet: (1) Recommendation to comply with party rules, (2) Reprimand, (3) Suspension from party positions, and (4) Recommendation to resign from parliamentary or government positions. Another option is for the party discipline committee to consider punishment.

On the afternoon of the 9th, Ishiba told reporters in the Diet why he did not support the bill, saying, ``The source of funds for the tax cut is still unclear.'' Mr. Furukawa sent a letter to the party secretary general's office stating, ``(Countermeasures against high prices) are the responsibility of politics.However, we cannot judge that this bill will be able to fully fulfill that responsibility.''