Japan LDP Exec Says PM Kishida ‘Lacks Leadership Qualities’

The Yomiuri Shimbun

21:05 JST, October 25, 2023

A ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s executive criticized Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday during a plenary session of the upper house on Wednesday.

Speaking during a question-and-answer session, Hiroshige Seko, LDP secretary general for the House of Councillors, said the reason for the LDP continuing to have low approval ratings after a Cabinet reshuffle in September and by-elections involving Diet members ending in a win and a loss was “simply because [Kishida] hasn’t shown leadership qualities expected by the public.”

Kishida — who also serves as LDP president — hopes to buoy his administration by “returning a portion of the increased tax revenue” through income tax cuts and other measures, but the executive’s comments highlighted growing the dissatisfaction within the party over Kishida’s stance.

Seko opined that leaders should “make decisions, communicate in easy-to-understand language, and motivate people.” He also criticized the phrase of “returning a portion of the increased tax revenue,” saying “the word ‘return’ is difficult to understand.”

Seko added: “There was speculation even within the ruling parties as to whether [the prime minister] was going to provide benefits or cut taxes, and nothing has been conveyed to the public regarding what [he] was trying to do.”