Latest news with #LDP-led
Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Amid LDP turmoil, Japan's Koizumi to meet S. Korea's top diplomat in Seoul
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Seoul on Monday, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Friday. Koizumi, a potential contender to become the next leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party amid domestic political turbulence following the party's recent election debacle, will embark on his three-day trip to South Korea on Saturday. Koizumi will participate in the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting, hosted by South Korea and scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Incheon. He will also attend a trilateral meeting of agricultural ministers from South Korea, Japan and China on Monday. 'Our government has been seeking various high-level exchanges to forge a more solid and mature relationship between Korea and Japan, and this meeting is part of those efforts,' a Foreign Ministry official in Seoul said on condition of anonymity when asked about the background of Cho's meeting with Koizumi. Cho's separate meeting with Koizumi is widely seen as rare and commanding attention, given the ongoing Japanese political turmoil and his rise as a contender for the next LDP leader. The LDP-led coalition's loss of its upper house majority in a historic defeat in the July 20 election has left the fate of Prime Minister and LDP leader Shigeru Ishiba hanging in the balance. A recent public opinion poll conducted by Japan News Network from Aug. 2 to 3 among 2,531 people nationwide aged 18 or older found that Koizumi was favored when asked who would be the most suitable next prime minister should Ishiba stand down. Koizumi topped the poll with 20.4 percent of respondents choosing him, followed by former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi with 16.7 percent. Koizumi's prospects as a political leader were widely deemed over after he finished third in the LDP's leadership race in September. However, Koizumi has recently reclaimed the political spotlight after being inaugurated as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in May. Koizumi has been acclaimed for bringing down rice prices in his current capacity amid rising household burdens, with his leadership viewed as being in a manner evocative of his father, popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Nikkei Asia
5 days ago
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Secretary to lawmaker of Japan's LDP to be indicted over fund scandal
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prosecutors have decided to indict a secretary to veteran ruling party lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda, overturning an earlier decision not to charge the aide over a failure to report about 20 million yen ($135,000) in political funds, investigative sources said Sunday. The move marks the first time that prosecutors have decided to pursue a criminal case, following a prosecution review panel decision, related to the Liberal Democratic Party slush fund scandal, reflecting persisting public frustration over the issue. Hagiuda was minister for economy and trade, among other responsibilities, under former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and minister for education under Kishida's predecessor Yoshihide Suga. He has not been included in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet. The secretary was not indicted in 2024, with prosecutors granting a stay of prosecution. In June, however, a Tokyo committee for the inquest of prosecution ruled the aide should be indicted. Prosecutors now plan to issue a summary indictment. A summary indictment allows prosecutors to seek a fine through written procedures without a formal trial. If the secretary does not consent, prosecutors are expected to file a regular indictment and request a public trial without detaining the individual. The omitted funds totaled 27.28 million yen over five years through 2022, according to the LDP. About 19.52 million yen from 2020 to 2022 was subject to prosecution under the political funds control law, as amounts prior to 2020 were beyond the statute of limitations. The prosecution review panel pointed to the secretary's repeated misconduct and destruction of receipts, calling the case particularly egregious. It warned that failure to indict may encourage others to engage in similar conduct in the future. The LDP, which has been in power for much of the time since 1955, has come under intense scrutiny after some of its now-defunct factions, such as one headed by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, failed to report income from fundraising events and amassed slush funds. Hagiuda, also a former LDP policy chief, was known as a confidant of Abe, who once led the party's largest faction that was influential in selecting prime ministers. Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, was assassinated in 2022 during a campaign speech. Since the surfacing of the slush funds scandal in late 2023, public trust in the LDP has plunged, taking a heavy toll on the party even in recent elections. Over the past year, the LDP-led ruling coalition lost its majority in both chambers of parliament. In May 2024, prosecutors decided not to indict Hagiuda, but the case was sent for review. The panel later ruled the non-indictment appropriate, citing a lack of evidence. In October's House of Representatives election, he ran as an independent and won, although the LDP did not endorse him due to his involvement in the scandal. Hagiuda was again endorsed by the LDP following his successful reelection. After the party's major setback in the July 20 House of Councillors election, he has been among the veteran lawmakers urging Ishiba to step down.
Business Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Times
Japan PM says win-win trade deal with US may be hard to implement
[TOKYO] The trade deal reached last month between the US and Japan was 'win-win' for both countries, but implementing the terms of the pact may be a bigger challenge than reaching the deal, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said. 'Some say that carrying the trade deal out is harder than agreeing on it. I humbly seek your continued support on this,' Ishiba said on Monday (Aug 4) in response to questions in parliament. At the same session of parliament, Japan's chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa acknowledged criticism over the lack of having anything in writing. 'It's my understanding that having something on paper would be helpful,' Akazawa said, adding that there's also nothing in writing related to Washington's deals with the EU and South Korea. The comments underscore the vast uncertainties related to the raft of global trade deals, even after a deadline for higher tariffs was reached on Aug 1. Washington agreed to assess a 15 per cent across-the-board levy on imports from Japan, a lower rate than the previously threatened 25 per cent. The fate of auto tariffs is still unclear. Ishiba, under pressure after last month's setback in the upper house election, has vowed to stay on as premier in order to ensure the trade deal is fully implemented. A few days after the election, Ishiba secured the surprise trade deal that delivered relatively better results to Japan compared with other nations. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The car tariffs, currently at 27.5 per cent including a pre-existing 2.5 per cent rate, have delivered a major blow to the Japanese economy as the sector is the biggest source of exports to the US and accounts for roughly 10 per cent of economic output. 'We should first devote all our efforts to properly lowering automobile tariffs, which are most closely related to our national interests, and to getting a presidential order issued,' Ishiba said. Support for Ishiba's Cabinet rose four percentage points to 36.8 per cent in a poll conducted over the weekend by JNN. Support for Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party nudged lower from the previous month's survey to 20.4 per cent, while the right-wing Sanseito party saw its support rise four points to 10.2 per cent, making it the second most-popular party. Pressed on when the government might implement subsidies meant to help households cope with soaring living costs, Ishiba said that it would depend on discussions with other parties. The setback in last month's election resulted in the government losing its majority in the upper house, after it lost its lower house majority last October. It's the first time in 70 years that an LDP-led coalition is having to govern without a majority in either house of parliament. BLOOMBERG
Nikkei Asia
6 days ago
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Secretary to Japan's LDP lawmaker to be indicted over fund scandal
TOKYO -- Prosecutors have decided to indict a secretary to veteran ruling party lawmaker Koichi Hagiuda, overturning an earlier decision not to charge the aide over a failure to report about 20 million yen ($135,000) in political funds, investigative sources said Sunday. The move marks the first time that prosecutors have decided to pursue a criminal case, following a prosecution review panel decision, related to the Liberal Democratic Party slush fund scandal, reflecting persisting public frustration over the issue. Hagiuda was minister for economy and trade, among other responsibilities, under former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and minister for education under Kishida's predecessor Yoshihide Suga. He has not been included in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet. The secretary was not indicted in 2024, with prosecutors granting a stay of prosecution. In June, however, a Tokyo committee for the inquest of prosecution ruled the aide should be indicted. Prosecutors now plan to issue a summary indictment. A summary indictment allows prosecutors to seek a fine through written procedures without a formal trial. If the secretary does not consent, prosecutors are expected to file a regular indictment and request a public trial without detaining the individual. The omitted funds totaled 27.28 million yen over five years through 2022, according to the LDP. About 19.52 million yen from 2020 to 2022 was subject to prosecution under the political funds control law, as amounts prior to 2020 were beyond the statute of limitations. The prosecution review panel pointed to the secretary's repeated misconduct and destruction of receipts, calling the case particularly egregious. It warned that failure to indict may encourage others to engage in similar conduct in the future. The LDP, which has been in power for much of the time since 1955, has come under intense scrutiny after some of its now-defunct factions, such as one headed by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, failed to report income from fundraising events and amassed slush funds. Hagiuda, also a former LDP policy chief, was known as a confidant of Abe, who once led the party's largest faction that was influential in selecting prime ministers. Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, was assassinated in 2022 during a campaign speech. Since the surfacing of the slush funds scandal in late 2023, public trust in the LDP has plunged, taking a heavy toll on the party even in recent elections. Over the past year, the LDP-led ruling coalition lost its majority in both chambers of parliament. In May 2024, prosecutors decided not to indict Hagiuda, but the case was sent for review. The panel later ruled the non-indictment appropriate, citing a lack of evidence. In October's House of Representatives election, he ran as an independent and won, although the LDP did not endorse him due to his involvement in the scandal. Hagiuda was again endorsed by the LDP following his successful reelection. After the party's major setback in the July 20 House of Councillors election, he has been among the veteran lawmakers urging Ishiba to step down.
31-07-2025
- Politics
LDP Lawmakers' Plenary Meeting Set for Aug. 8
News from Japan Jul 31, 2025 15:57 (JST) Tokyo, July 31 (Jiji Press)--Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday decided to hold a general meeting of its lawmakers in both chambers of the Diet, the country's parliament, on Aug. 8. The decision came in response to a request to hold such a meeting made during a general meeting of party lawmakers on Monday. A plenary meeting of lawmakers is the LDP's official decision-making organ. The Aug. 8 meeting is for summarizing the July 20 House of Councillors election and discussing future management of the party, according to the decision. The LDP's secretariat says that a plenary meeting does not involve a decision on the fate of the party's president. Some party lawmakers have launched a campaign to gather signatures to call on Prime Minister and LDP President Shigeru Ishiba to take responsibility for the LDP-led ruling camp's loss of its majority in the upper chamber of the Diet in the July 20 election. They have claimed that they collected signatures from a third of the party's lawmakers, which is the minimum required to call for a plenary meeting. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
