Eruption of Criticisms against Kishida

Fundamental frustration on the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida keeps on erupting from the Liberal Democratic Party. Young lawmakers announce their attitude against reelection of Kishida in the LDP presidential election this fall. Some elder leaders talk about post-Kishida administration. It looks like the beginning of a movement of pulling Kishida down from the premiership.

 Dealing with the slush fund scandal paralleled with the Lockheed Scandal or the Recruit scandal, Kishida led dissolution of factions in the LDP and punished 39 lawmakers affiliated with Abe and Nikai faction. But he did not punish himself as the leader of his faction. The LDP lawmakers have heard severe criticisms over their control of political funds from the voters in their precincts.

 

Those LDP lawmakers have been inactive in accusing of Kishida’s lack of leadership in appealing to the voters, because a careless protest against the prime minister might trigger a snap election, which could solely be decided by Kishida. But, as the ordinary session of the Diet came close to the end, they eventually began to speak out their complaints publicly.

 

One week before the end of the session on June 16, a member of House of Representatives Hiroaki Saito, who is affiliated to the faction led by the LDP Vice-president Taro Aso, referred to responsibility of Kishida in a local meeting in Niigata. “Someone needs to take responsibility for inviting such a circumstance like this,” said Saito. Saito admitted that he indicated stepping down of Kishida.

 

With closing of the Diet session, discussion over post-Kishida leader was accelerated. Kuniyoshi Azuma, a member of Motegi faction, publicly demanded Kishida stepping down. “He should not refer to his reelection so easily. I hope him to refrain from running for the president and make effort to open a new door for the future,” said Azuma in his town meeting in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, on June 22.

 

Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been active in having meeting with possible candidates for the presidential election. He also referred to responsibility of Kishida. “He has yet taken his responsibility so far,” said Suga in a video program of Bungei Shunju magazine. “It will be a good opportunity for the LDP to present their idea for a reform,” Suga told on the presidential election, indicating replacement of Kishida.

 

In the ranking of preferable prime minister in polls, the top runner is Shigeru Ishiba, former LDP Secretary General. While he warned outstanding speech for the president in a time of difficulty for his party, Ishiba insisted that he would never be saying nothing in the moment of truth. LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, one of the possible candidates in the party, told that he would consider his candidacy during this summer. The race looks like having started.

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