TOKYO: Nine candidates in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Sept. 27 leadership election participated in a debate hosted by the Japan National Press Club on Saturday, discussing a possible snap election for the House of Representatives, as well as political reform following the party’s “slush fund” scandal.

Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, reiterated his willingness to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election “as soon as possible” if he becomes the next LDP leader and then prime minister.

Meanwhile, Koizumi suggested that he would be reluctant to face budget committee meetings in both chambers of the Diet before calling a snap election. “After the money scandal, we cannot advance any policies unless we face the people’s judgment soon,” he said.

Former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, said that it will be the responsibility of a new prime minister to provide the public with information to make a judgment. “It is the budget committees where real exchanges (with opposition parties) take place,” he noted.

Koizumi, Ishiba and economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, have been the top three favorites in many media polls on who should be the next LDP leader.

On the slush fund scandal involving LDP factions, Takaichi expressed her reluctance to conduct a reinvestigation. “The party has investigated the matter with the cooperation of lawyers,” she said. “A reinvestigation would be conducted only if new facts emerge.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 63, another of the nine candidates, said only that the party would reinvestigate the scandal “if necessary.”

Among the other participants, LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68, was asked why he did not propose the abolition of so-called policy activity expenses, as he currently does, when the political funds control law was revised during this year’s ordinary Diet session. He replied, “It was discussed at the final stage of talks on the law revision.”

Regarding a possible dual surname system for married couples, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, said, “It is not appropriate to rush to a decision as a public consensus has not yet been built.” He added that it is “realistic” to allow the use of maiden names in the workplace.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, 71, said she “personally” supports a dual surname system, but pointed out that it involves the risk of causing a division in society. “I will take time to think about it,” she noted.

Digital transformation minister Taro Kono, 61, explained that he has withdrawn his call for a shift away from nuclear power because of “the need for a practical approach.”

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, 68, said a review of restrictions on the dismissal of employees should come after companies provide support for reskilling.

JIJI Press