Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, is reportedly set to dismiss four ministers on Wednesday due to a significant party financing scandal.
Media reports indicated that among those to be removed were Kishida’s close aide, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, and Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister of economy, industry, and trade.
Additionally, internal affairs minister Junji Suzuki and agriculture minister Ichiro Miyashita, along with five deputy ministers, were said to be among those slated for dismissal, as per unnamed government and party sources cited by multiple media outlets.
Kishida, whose popularity has declined since assuming office in October 2021, was anticipated to announce this decision during a scheduled news conference at 6:15 pm local time (0915 GMT).
All the ministers expected to be removed belong to the largest faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has held power in Japan for an extensive period.
Allegations of around 500 million yen ($3.4 million) in kickbacks directed to members of this faction, formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are reportedly under investigation by prosecutors.
While declining to elaborate, Matsuno, who also serves as the chief government spokesperson, mentioned on Wednesday that Kishida would take necessary actions aimed at restoring public trust.
“Prime Minister Kishida has said the public trust in the government is shaking as a result of various issues having been pointed out over political fund-raising parties,” Matsuno told reporters.
Asked about the allegations about his role, Matsuno said he would “take appropriate measures” after his political group investigates the allegations.
The reported kickbacks were allegedly directed to party members who purportedly surpassed their ticket sales quotas for party fundraising events.
“If you are confident of selling tickets if you sell more than you are obliged to sell, that will all become your income, so that’s easy and great,” a senior official who used to work in the office of an LDP lawmaker told broadcaster ANN, his face concealed and his voice disguised.
Following the conclusion of the current parliament session on Wednesday, prosecutors are set to expedite their inquiry into the allegations by planning interviews with numerous lawmakers affiliated with the Abe faction, as reported by the Yomiuri Daily.
Former Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto is among those reportedly implicated in the scandal. This week, the controversy reportedly expanded to involve a faction within the LDP that was previously led by Kishida.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Kishida stated that he had directed his faction to investigate the allegations thoroughly and make necessary revisions to his political fund reports if required.
Meanwhile, the opposition aimed to table a no-confidence motion against his cabinet on Wednesday, although its passage was anticipated to be unsuccessful due to the government’s majority.
