Ishiba, Obuchi and others reprimanded, abstaining from voting, LDP ``cannot overlook''

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. Ishiba told reporters inside the Diet, ``I have no choice but to take this very seriously.''

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

In addition to Messrs. Ishiba and Obuchi, those punished include former Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa and former Economic Planning Agency Director Gen Funada. Both left the plenary session on the 6th and abstained from voting. The executive branch imposed a restraint on party members, obliging them to vote in favor of the bill, and instructed them not to leave the floor until the end of the vote.

At the request of the executive branch, the four members submitted a document to the party explaining the circumstances behind their abstention. Mr. Suzuki reported the decision on the punishment at a board meeting on the 9th, and explained at a subsequent press conference that ``from the perspective of maintaining unity within the party, we cannot overlook it.''

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. A reprimand is the second-lightest punishment.

On the 9th, ahead of the decision to dispose of the bill, Ishiba told reporters that the reason he did not support the bill was that ``the source of funds for the tax cut is still unclear.''

The executive branch decided to take action because it is concerned about the impact on the House of Councilors vote on the consumption tax reduction bill. The ruling party is two seats short of a majority in the House of Councilors, even if it includes two members of the Japanese Conservative Party who are in favor of the tax cut bill. The bill plans to step up efforts to gain support from independent members and some opposition parties, but if opponents emerge from the Liberal Democratic Party, it will become even more difficult to see the bill's passage.