Takaichi and LDP weigh disciplinary action for party members who abstained from food tax vote

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are considering disciplinary action against four LDP lawmakers who abstained from voting on a bill to reduce the food consumption tax. The bill, which passed the Lower House on Friday, is a key priority for Takaichi's administration. The four lawmakers in question are former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Yuko Obuchi, Hajime Funada, and Yoshihisa Furukawa.

They submitted written statements to the party headquarters explaining their decision to walk out before the tax bill was voted on. Ishiba expressed concerns over where the government would find the necessary funds to replace the anticipated ¥5 trillion ($31.6 billion) loss in annual tax revenue. The LDP, which holds a two-thirds majority in the Lower House, passed the bill with ease.

However, the sudden rejection by the LDP lawmakers in the Lower House could complicate its passage in the Upper House, where opposition parties are likely to argue that even prominent LDP members oppose the bill. LDP leaders emphasized the importance of party discipline, stating that the bill needed to be voted in accordance with the party line.

Takaichi refrained from commenting on the actions of the four lawmakers, stating that their decisions were those of individual lawmakers.