The Liberal Democratic Party's acting secretary-general, Koichi Hagiuda, defended reprimands handed to former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and three other LDP lawmakers who left the chamber before a Lower House vote on a consumption tax cut bill, saying the party could not overlook the walkout.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Hagiuda said the four were veteran politicians and the facts were clear. "From the standpoint of party unity, this cannot be overlooked," he said, Kyodo News reported.
The reprimands were issued under the secretary-general's authority. Hagiuda said the timing reflected the bill's move to the Upper House for debate on Wednesday. "There was a judgment that we should settle this quickly rather than take time," he said.
Upper House concern
At a meeting of party officers on Monday, attendees from the Upper House side — where the LDP holds a minority — said the walkout was "absolutely unforgivable," Hagiuda said.
The four left the chamber before the plenary vote in the Lower House on Friday. Alongside Ishiba were former election strategy chief Yuko Obuchi, former justice minister Yoshihisa Furukawa and former Economic Planning Agency director-general Hajime Funada.
Secretary-General Suzuki issued the reprimands on Monday. It is the first disciplinary action against a former party president.