Japan's ruling party zeroes in on ex-PM, others over tax cut bill walkouts

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is seeking explanations from four party members, including former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, following their walkouts before a vote on a bill to implement a consumption tax cut, according to Kyodo news. The party has given them until Monday to explain their actions ahead of any potential disciplinary measures.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who heads the LDP, supports the temporary tax cut to alleviate household expenses due to rising living costs. The four who skipped the House of Representatives vote on the consumption tax reduction bill on Friday include Ishiba, replaced by Takaichi in October 2025, and Yuko Obuchi, an advocate of fiscal responsibility who resigned from a tax panel in July.

Ishiba expressed concerns over funding and lack of clarity, stating, "Our concerns about fiscal discipline have yet to be dispelled." Obuchi also voiced worries about funding, emphasizing the importance of the consumption tax for future generations, noting her father's role in its introduction in 1989.

The ruling coalition, comprising the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party, plans to reduce the tax rate on food and beverages to 1% from 8% for two years beginning April. While opposition parties find the bill lacking in clarity, it also aims to provide cash benefits for low-income earners.

The walkouts have caught the attention of party officials, with Takaichi refraining from openly criticizing the four. Takayuki Kobayashi, the LDP's policy chief, called it "extremely regrettable," while another senior LDP member remarked, "It's not the kind of action a former prime minister should take."

The bill passed the ruling coalition-controlled lower house but lacks a majority in the Senate. To enact the legislation, the ruling camp needs support from opposition parties before the current session ends in December.