Latest news with #UpperHouseElection
Japan Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
LDP holds meeting to let proponents of tax cut blow off steam
The Liberal Democratic Party held a study session on Friday in an apparent attempt to let proponents of a consumption tax cut blow off steam following the party's decision to forgo including the measure in its election platform. While some participants voiced calls for a tax cut, the of the LDP's Research Commission on the Tax System ended without a hitch in just an hour and 20 minutes, 10 minutes shorter than planned. The LDP leadership has decided not to include a consumption tax reduction in its campaign pledges for the upcoming Upper House election.
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Three Upper House candidates are creating headaches for DPP
The Democratic Party for the People (DPP) heads into the upcoming Upper House election, expected in late July, with hopes of building on its success in October's Lower House race, where it quadrupled its seats from seven to 28. As winning individual district seats could prove difficult, DPP head Yuichiro Tamaki is hoping to pick up a large number of proportional representation seats, for which ballots are cast for political parties who then decide who fills the seats that are won. 'The goal is to win 21 seats, which would allow the DPP to independently submit budget bills in the chamber,' Tamaki said during a March 4 news conference. The DPP controls 12 seats (including those who caucus with it) in the 248-member Upper House. Five, including three proportional and two district seats, are up for election this time, but the party's goal is to nearly double its total seats. Three DPP proportional seat candidates in particular, though, are creating headaches for party leaders. Yasushi Adachi, 59, is a former Nippon Ishin no Kai Lower House member who was suspended by that party last year for criticizing it. He was forced to run as an independent in the October election, which he lost. Adachi also has a record of criticizing other politicians, including Tamaki, and has expressed disapproval of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo. The DPP receives a lot of support from some of Rengo's largest labor unions, including those representing the auto industry, the electronics industry and the major electric utility companies. A second DPP candidate, Shiori Yamao — 50 and a former Lower House lawmaker with the former opposition Democratic Party, before it merged with Kibo no To to form the DPP — was forced to resign in 2017 due to an extramarital affair. A third, former Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Upper House member Genki Sudo, 47, left that party in 2020 over disagreements on lowering the consumption tax and economic issues. He had also been against nuclear power, which the DPP supports, and had made remarks about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines that made him appear to be anti-vaccine, which he denied on his X account. He also now says he has changed his stance on nuclear power. To deal with concerns about DPP candidates going off-message, Tamaki announced on May 13 that proportional representation candidates for the Upper House would be required to sign an agreement confirming they will follow DPP policy on a number of specific issues. These include agreeing to support constitutional revisions that include added provisions for a national emergency, such as a natural disaster , the use of nuclear power and a commitment to policy decisions that are based on scientific evidence. Political commentator Tetsuo Suzuki says the DPP is choosing to back the candidates despite their past controversies because they have the political experience the party needs, and they're looking to return to parliament with what they see as a rising party. 'Those hoping to make a political comeback are hoping to ride the wave of current popularity the DPP enjoys, even though the party's policies are fragmented and their national vision is still unclear," Suzuki says. Proportional representatives seeking DPP backing also had to agree to follow party polices or forfeit their seats, even if elected. One topic where members still have differences is over the question of allowing married couples to have separate surnames, which the DPP is still debating. Tamaki said that, in the end, all members will have to follow the party line on this and other issues. 'Diversity is important moving forward, so it is acceptable for there to be differing opinions on a single topic. However, it's important as part of the party's culture to adhere to decisions that have been made,' Tamaki said on May 13. Or, as DPP Secretary-General Kazuya Shimba said during a May 16 press conference, proportional representation — whereby voters select a political party with diverse individuals, some of which they may not like but all of whom are part of one party — is akin to a bento box. 'People know a bento has all kinds of different ingredients. But because there are so many different things, it becomes a single bento,' Shimba said. It is unclear whether the bento box approach to proportional candidates will translate into success in the Upper House poll, Suzuki says. However, he adds, there's another contest — the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on June 22 — in which the DPP, currently without any presence in the 127-seat assembly, wants to secure at least 11 seats, which will likely indicate how the party is to perform in the national election. 'The number of seats the DPP wins in the Tokyo election will be a good indicator of how well it performs in the Upper House election, due to the large number of independent Tokyo voters of the kind who supported the LDP last October,' he says, referring to the Liberal Democratic Party.
Japan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Don't reopen the ‘demon's gate' debate in Japan
Japan is facing a changing world of tariffs, artificial intelligence and a potentially existential threat to its exports. Yet its approaching election seems set to be dominated by a rehash of a decades-old debate. Consumption tax, first introduced in 1989 and raised over the years to its current maximum rate of 10%, is shaping up to be the major theme of July's Upper House election — a poll that will determine the fate of embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his minority government. With the public unhappy with persistent inflation, most recently in the form of a record surge in rice prices, Ishiba's rivals are lining up with spurious proposals to cut the sales tax or eliminate it entirely. He has pushed back, arguing that Japan's fiscal situation puts it in no position to reduce revenues. Japan's "fiscal situation is undoubtedly extremely poor, worse than Greece's,' he told parliament on Monday. While the comparison is unwise and helped to push up bond yields, it's true that the country is in no position to be cutting taxes. Calls to do so should be ignored — Japan doesn't have time to relitigate this staid discussion. Arguments over the levy are so persistent that it's long been described in media coverage as kimon, a phrase that literally translates as a "demon's gate' — from the ancient superstition that entrances facing northeast are unlucky as they allow evil spirits to enter — and refers in this context to a sticky problem or potential landmine. It has led to the collapse of governments and been blamed for triggering recessions. The issue overshadowed almost the entirety of Shinzo Abe's record-breaking time in office; and it so divided the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan that opposition to the ruling party remains fragmented to this day, helping Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party stay in power despite widespread public dissatisfaction. A recent survey found that more than 70% of respondents want the tax to be scrapped or reduced. Ishiba's decision to rule out a cut has given opposition politicians a chance to focus on the issue even more, with proposals to temporarily slash the levy on food to zero or reduce the entire tax to 5% until the economy improves. Ishiba's internal rival Sanae Takaichi, who tops polls of who should be the next premier, has broken ranks, backing the idea of imposing less on food. Ishiba bears responsibility for reopening the demon's gate, however: As U.S. tariffs roiled markets earlier this year, reports said the government was considering the measure. Of course, Japan is far from the only place where sales tax or its equivalents are repeatedly discussed. Singapore's move to raise its goods and services tax has been criticized for lifting inflation at a time when citizens were already feeling the pinch. Vietnam cut its value-added rate temporarily last year, which it may extend. And U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the VAT levied by many countries as a nontariff barrier that hurts U.S. exports. But in Tokyo, the debate is both irresponsible and deeply unserious. Opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda is making a temporary cut the core of his election manifesto. But he was the one who, in 2012, passed legislation raising the rate to 10% in the first place. Unlike most other countries, Japan has spent years trying desperately to stoke inflation. Now that it finally has some, the government must ensure things don't fall back — which makes it unwise to implement moves that would, at least in headline terms, be deflationary. Leaders should also avoid reawakening another old debate — Japan's considerable debt burden. The tax is the largest contributor to Tokyo's coffers, making up more than 30% of revenues. While takings have increased in recent years as the economy has recovered and inflation has risen, Ishiba must still find funds for increased defense spending and the ever-rising cost of health care and other social security measures as the country ages. Detractors say the consumption tax is a regressive measure that disproportionately penalizes the poor and causes more harm to the economy than good. But there are plenty of arguments to the contrary, including that it's both hard to avoid and easy to collect. Most importantly, it's on the books right now. By international levels, Japan's rate is rather low. Future generations may well debate whether to raise it, though that is not something I would argue for now. Policymakers must resist the temptation of populist proposals. The country has been crying out for a bold economic vision for years, ever since Abenomics ran out of steam. Let's find some new ideas instead of rehashing the classics. Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas.
Japan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Agriculture minister Taku Eto submits resignation following rice gaffe
Agriculture minister Taku Eto submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday over his recent gaffe regarding rice — comments that stoked public anger over the soaring price of the food staple. Youthful former environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi is expected to replace Eto, local media reports said. Eto, 64, is the first Cabinet minister to quit since Ishiba took office last October. During a speech in Saga on Sunday, Eto said that he never bought rice as he receives so much of the staple from his supporters that he could sell it. This drew criticism from both ruling and opposition lawmakers — as well as the general public. On Monday, Ishiba reprimanded Eto over the remarks, while expressing his intention to keep the agriculture minister in his post. On Tuesday, however, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and four other opposition parties agreed to demand the dismissal or resignation of Eto and consider submitting a no-confidence motion against him. Ishiba changed his mind, given that a no-confidence motion, if introduced, could pass as he leads a minority government, people familiar with the matter said. He also apparently wants to limit the impact of Eto's remarks about rice — which has been of great interest to the public — before an an Upper House election this summer. Eto, who was elected eight times to the Lower House, became agriculture minister last November. Among other ministers in the Ishiba Cabinet, Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki was reprimanded earlier this year by the prime minister for distributing mooncakes to ministry staff. Ishiba himself has been criticized for distributing gift certificates worth ¥100,000 per person during a meeting with new lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party at the prime minister's official residence.
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Who could become Japan's next prime minister?
No longer able to rely on the traditional vote-gathering power of factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, potential successors to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are convening study groups and chairing parliamentary leagues in the hopes of raising their profiles and winning support for their ambitions after July's Upper House election. The moves come as the Ishiba administration struggles with low approval ratings and growing concerns within the party that under Ishiba, the LDP will suffer great losses in the election, which would increase interparty pressure on him to step down. The dissolution of most LDP factions last year — only former Prime Minister Taro Aso's faction formally remains — following a slush funds scandal, the loss of the LDP-Komeito coalition's Lower House majority in October's general election, and the need for any prime minister to seek alliances with other opposition parties to pass legislation in that chamber mean the bar is high for anyone seeking to unseat Ishiba, regardless of the outcome of the July poll.
