EDITORIAL | PM Ishiba Must Explain the Money Scandal to Earn Public Trust

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved the National Diet on October 9 to hold Lower House elections. In his role as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also decided to treat some LDP members running in the upcoming election differently from others.

In principle, Ishiba and his LDP executive committee are targeting Diet members who did not report party faction income. This practice became a serious political money scandal for the LDP. Some of those politicians may still be officially endorsed by the local LDP in their own constituencies. However, they will not be recognized by the national party if they choose to run concurrently on proportional representation ballots.

As a result, party endorsements will be withheld from three former Abe faction leaders. In addition, Ishiba's LDP executive committee will withhold recognition of three former Abe and Nikai faction members who chose not to appear before political ethics committees in the Diet.

According to Ishiba, "It is necessary to respond forcefully to the public's distrust and anger."

This approach is a policy shift that affects the political careers of those Diet members concerned. More significantly, it appears to be an election-oriented strategy as Ishiba anticipates a tough battle in the Lower House.

*Former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, who was elected as the new president, raises his hand in response to the vote of support from LDP colleagues. (©Sankei photo by Kazuya Kamogawa)*

A Sneaky Flip-Flop

Initially, the party leadership signaled readiness to endorse concurrent candidacies for those affected Diet members. Instead, though, the Prime Minister has again engaged in actions that can only be deemed inconsistent with his previous statements.

Ishiba presented himself quite differently during the LDP presidential election. Specifically, when he first announced his candidacy he said whether Diet members involved in the factional party income scandal should be officially endorsed needed to be carefully considered. However, he later changed course. That was after receiving intense criticism for indicating he might not officially endorse some LDP candidates.

In essence, he asked for lawmakers' support in the LDP presidential election while hiding his true intent on this touchy topic. Then he turned his back on those lawmakers after he was elected. His actions showed his disrespect for the presidential election process.

Such a sneaky tactic is hardly deserving of praise.

*Voters listen to a street speech in front of JR Shimbashi Station, after the Diet was dissolved on October 9 (©Sankei by Yuta Yasumoto)*

Behavior That Invites Trouble

During the LDP election, Ishiba publicly pledged to meet with all the lawmakers who did not report factional party income. He said he would ask them to reflect on their past actions. But since being elected, he has made no move to meet. In fact, he seems reluctant to meet face-to-face with these lawmakers. Instead, he claims, "There are severe time restraints."

However, isn't it Ishiba himself who is going back on his word by rushing to dissolve the Lower House? He hasn't even convened a budget committee meeting to discuss issues.

Furthermore, the Ishiba Cabinet is not at all popular. In the rush to quickly dissolve the Diet, he has left a gap between words and deeds. This shows in the course corrections he is already making regarding major policies proposed during the presidential election. It is further reflected in the failure to form a cabinet that represents the LDP as a whole. In every case, Ishiba invited the trouble himself.

Undermining Party Unity

Ishiba's decision to take a forceful approach regarding official endorsements for Lower House election candidates will further undermine party unity. It is also unclear how deeply it will resonate with voters.

Furthermore, there are some aspects of Ishiba's standards for official endorsement that are difficult to understand. He seems to be exempted from his standards lawmakers who were punished by "suspension from holding party positions" and who explained themselves during Political Ethics Committee meetings. These lawmakers have not been included on his list of candidates who will have official endorsement withheld.

Even though these lawmakers offered explanations to the Political Ethics Committee, it can hardly be said that we have gotten to the bottom of the affair. Prime Minister Ishiba and the LDP must explain why this scandal developed in the first place. His actions do not help seek that explanation.

(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun