Current:Home > Contact-usJapanese vice minister resigns over tax scandal in another setback for Kishida’s unpopular Cabinet-LoTradeCoin
Japanese vice minister resigns over tax scandal in another setback for Kishida’s unpopular Cabinet
View Date:2024-12-23 22:53:45
TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese vice finance minister stepped down on Monday, amid criticism from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet, after admitting his company’s repeated failures to pay taxes, a further setback to Kishida’s unpopular government.
Deputy Finance Minister Kenji Kanda, in charge of government bonds and monetary policy, is the third member of Kishida’s Cabinet to resign within two months following a Cabinet shuffle in September.
Kishida later told reporters that he takes responsibility for the appointment of Kanda. “I must apologize to the people that a vice finance minister had to resign soon after he assumed his position,” Kishida said. “I’m determined to concentrate on our work more seriously, as I believe that’s the only way to regain the people’s trust.”
Kanda, a tax accountant-turned-lawmaker, admitted that land and property belonging to his company was seized by the authorities four times between 2013 and 2022 after failures to pay fixed asset taxes, in response to a weekly magazine article that revealed the case earlier this month.
Opposition lawmakers grilled Kanda over the tax scandal during parliamentary sessions last week, halting discussion of other key policy issues. Kishida was slow to respond and his party initially was also resistant to opposition attacks, but they apparently shifted toward Kanda’s resignation because of the widening criticism, Japanese media reported.
Kanda’s resignation, which he rendered to his boss, Shunichi Suzuki, was later approved by the Cabinet, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said.
Kishida is seeking to have a snap election before his current term as head of the governing Liberal Democratic Party expires in September so he can serve another term as Japan’s leader, but he has been struggling to figure out a timing that would maximize his chance amid his sagging support ratings.
Despite the reshuffle, support for Kishida’s Cabinet has kept dwindling and recent media surveys showed approval ratings falling below 30%.
Kishida’s government has suffered public criticism over slow economic measures to mitigate the impact of rising prices, repeated glitches over the digitalization of a health insurance system, and his indecisive image.
Since the reshuffle in September, Kishida’s Cabinet had lost two other vice ministers in separate scandals. A vice education minister resigned after acknowledging an extramarital affair and a vice justice minister resigned over an alleged violation of election law.
Kenta Izumi, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters that Kanda’s dismissal was only natural but too late. “He should not have become vice finance minister to begin with, and that raises the question over the prime minister’s responsibility over his appointment.”
veryGood! (644)
Related
- Dogecoin soars after Trump's Elon Musk announcement: What to know about the cryptocurrency
- “Strong and Well” Jamie Foxx Helps Return Fan’s Lost Purse During Outing in Chicago
- After a Decade, Federal Officials Tighten Guidelines on Air Pollution
- This cellular atlas could lead to breakthroughs for endometriosis patients
- 24 more monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina lab are recovered unharmed
- In the End, Solar Power Opponents Prevail in Williamsport, Ohio
- Massachusetts Utilities Hope Hydrogen and Biomethane Can Keep the State Cooking, and Heating, With Gas
- Wet socks can make a difference: Tips from readers on keeping cool without AC
- Barbora Krejcikova calls out 'unprofessional' remarks about her appearance
- Can't Fall Asleep? This Cooling Body Pillow With 16,600+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews is $38 for Prime Day 2023
Ranking
- Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and More React to Craig Melvin Replacing Hoda Kotb as Co-Anchor
- Save 46% on the TikTok-Loved Solawave Skincare Wand That Works in 5 Minutes During Amazon Prime Day 2023
- Summer School 2: Competition and the cheaper sneaker
- Oil Companies Had a Problem With ExxonMobil’s Industry-Wide Carbon Capture Proposal: Exxon’s Bad Reputation
- Quincy Jones' Cause of Death Revealed
- Amazon Prime Day 2023: Get a Portable Garment Steamer With 65,000+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews for Just $28
- Environmental Groups and Native Leaders Say Proposed Venting and Flaring Rule Falls Short
- Illinois Clean Energy Law’s Failed Promises: No New Jobs or Job-Training
Recommendation
-
The Office's Kate Flannery Defends John Krasinski's Sexiest Man Alive Win
-
A 16-year-old died while working at a poultry plant in Mississippi
-
Decarbonization Program Would Eliminate Most Emissions in Southwest Pennsylvania by 2050, a New Study Finds
-
Iconic Olmsted Parks Threatened Around the Country by All Manifestations of Climate Change
-
NATO’s Rutte calls for more Western support for Ukraine, warns of Russian alliances
-
Emmy Nominations 2023 Are Finally Here: See the Full List
-
Finding the Antidote to Climate Anxiety in Stories About Taking Action
-
2022 Will Be Remembered as the Year the U.S. Became the World’s Largest Exporter of Liquified Natural Gas