Obuchi Yuko, a former economy minister, was removed as deputy chair of the Liberal Democratic Party's tax research commission after abstaining on a tax-cut bill, a dismissal she said she accepted only after refusing to step down herself.
Obuchi abstained in the vote on the consumption tax cut bill. Party Secretary-General Suzuki Shunichi and acting secretary-general Hagiuda Koichi asked her to resign the post. She declined, and tax commission chairman Onodera Itsunori decided on the removal, she told reporters at the Diet on the 10th, shortly before 6 p.m.
Furukawa Motoo, a former justice minister who also abstained, offered his resignation himself, according to the account.
"I cannot resign of my own accord"
Obuchi said Onodera summoned her after the day's plenary session and asked her to leave the deputy chairmanship, and that she accepted.
In the morning meeting with Suzuki and Hagiuda, she was told it would be awkward for her to resign the post herself. She argued she had worked on regional economic revitalization, support for households raising children and tax measures for Okinawa, and had raised concerns about the consumption tax.
“I said I cannot resign this deputy chairmanship of my own accord.”Obuchi Yuko, LDP lower house member
She also told them that if the commission had no need for her as deputy chair, the chairman who appointed her should dismiss her.
Suzuki said he would consult and took the matter away, she said. Onodera's answer came that afternoon.
“He said I left the chamber on a bill subject to a party vote, and that the law matters because the commission had long debated it, so keeping me as an officer was inappropriate.”Obuchi Yuko, LDP lower house member
She said she asked for his reasons and accepted with "I understand."
Reprimand and a question of direction
Obuchi said she left the chamber knowing she would have to bear whatever punishment the party imposed. The party reprimanded her, and the reprimand was delivered by telephone.
“Everyone does not have to face the same direction and say the same yes.”Obuchi Yuko, LDP lower house member
Former Prime Minister Ishiba and three others were also reprimanded, a decision Suzuki announced. Suzuki said the instruction did not come from party president Takaichi and that acting sooner was better than dragging the matter out.