Ishiba Criticizes LDP Consumption Tax Debate as 'Pressure by Numbers' Amid 65-9 Vote, Urges Stable Revenue
Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba criticized young Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers for backing food consumption tax cuts mainly to fulfill election pledges, saying the party's platform only promised accelerated discussions, not the tax reduction itself. He called for debate on stable revenue sources including progressive income tax. The government plans to push tax legislation in the autumn extraordinary Diet session.
Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in an August 13 appearance on the CS-TBS program "Dialogue on the Diet Frontline," criticized the attitude of young lawmakers who support a food consumption tax reduction proposal on the grounds of fulfilling the party's House of Representatives election pledge.
Ishiba noted that the Liberal Democratic Party's February election platform stated it would "accelerate discussions toward achieving a zero consumption tax rate for food products," but the pledge did not promise the tax cut itself. Instead, he said, it committed to "accelerated discussions," including on revenue sources and the timeline. He added that the platform also contained provisions to curb growth in social security costs, and that young lawmakers who emphasize only the tax cut while ignoring other commitments are making an unreasonable argument. Ishiba also recalled the introduction of the consumption tax in April 1989 under the government of Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, describing how the party pushed forward with necessary national policies even as approval ratings fell, and lamented, "Where has that LDP gone?"
On revenue sources for the tax cut, Ishiba stated that "politics is not magic" and cautioned against relying on temporary sources such as higher tax revenue. He argued that discussions on securing stable funding should be conducted in areas such as progressive income tax rates, taxation of financial income, and corporate tax, with the willingness to accept criticism. The government plans to push for the enactment of legislation related to the consumption tax reduction during the autumn extraordinary Diet session. Ishiba said lawmakers taking a cautious stance should strengthen communication among themselves and broaden the scope of discussion, while also noting the need to change the "always the same people" approach to debate to avoid misunderstanding. He also revealed that although some lawmakers did not speak during party meetings, several approached him afterward to say, "What you said is right."