《LDP Leadership Election》Major media outlets unanimously align with party and opposition efforts to undermine Sanae Takaichi. Behind the scenes lies the Ministry of Finance's desire to block tax cuts.
//Summary - Level-B2//
In the LDP leadership race set for 4 October, Sanae Takaichi is leading in polls against Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Despite her popularity, senior LDP figures, opposition parties, and significant media are critical of her, raising doubts about her ability to form coalitions. Analysts argue this is a deliberate campaign, influenced by the Ministry of Finance and business leaders, who oppose her expansionary policies, such as tax cuts. They fear her stance could disrupt fiscal consolidation and strain business ties with China. Thus, political and media forces appear aligned to block her rise.
1)
The LDP leadership election, with voting and counting on 4 October, is scheduled.
Former Minister for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi, who narrowly lost to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the previous runoff, is widely seen as the frontrunner, leading in many opinion polls.
Her main rival is Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Yet, as the election landscape solidifies, a peculiar phenomenon is unfolding. Senior LDP figures, Komeito, opposition parties, and even major media outlets have begun undermining Ms Takaichi, who leads the race. What exactly is happening?
2)
Prominent critical tone towards Ms Takaichi in significant media coverage:
According to leadership election opinion polls by newspapers and television, the race is effectively a two-horse contest with Ms Takaichi leading: ‘Takaichi 29%, Koizumi 25%’ (Yomiuri/NNN poll) and ‘Takaichi 28%, Koizumi 22.5%’ (Kyodo News).
The Yomiuri/NNN poll shows a reversal among LDP supporters, with ‘Koizumi 33%, Takaichi 28%’. However, the voices of opposition supporters are intriguing.
Among supporters of the Democratic Party for the People, one of the coalition candidates the LDP is considering, ‘Takaichi 50%, Koizumi 9%’ shows Ms Takaichi leading by a wide margin.
3)
However, the major media outlets' reporting stance has been notably critical of Ms Takaichi.
Television talk shows have, from early on, reported commentators' information that ‘Mr Aso is supporting Mr Koizumi this time,’ with commentary such as ‘a coalition would be difficult with Ms Takaichi’ also prominent.
4)
Newspapers also highlighted that nearly half of Ms Takaichi's endorsers from the previous leadership contest had lost their seats, with the Mainichi reporting: 〈‘Post-Ishiba’: Endorsers' fortunes diverge; Takaichi sees significant decline; could affect her appeal?〉.
The Tokyo Shimbun, reporting immediately after the House of Councillors election, stated: 〈LDP's ‘rightward shift’ accelerating? If Sanae Takaichi becomes the leader, could the ‘Anti-Espionage Bill’ become a reality? Conservative opposition parties are also leaning forward〉.
5)
The moves to undermine Ms Takaichi from both the LDP and opposition sides align with the major media's reporting.
Mr Yoichi Takahashi, a former finance bureaucrat who served as an advisor to the Cabinet Secretariat under the Suga administration, states:
6)
"The old media explain that if Ms Takaichi becomes president, she won't be able to form a coalition with the opposition. But looking at the policies, that's not the case. The National Democratic Party's advocacy for expansionary fiscal policy largely aligns with Ms Takaichi's stance.
On measures to combat inflation and policies promoting next-generation technologies, she also shares common ground with the Japan Innovation Party. The aim of reporting contrary to facts is likely a negative campaign."
7)
The Ministry of Finance's propaganda that ‘a coalition cannot be formed with Takaichi’:
Mr Takahashi further points out that behind this, the intentions of the Ministry of Finance and business circles are discernible.
"If Ms Takaichi became president, it would become politically feasible to accept policies demanded by opposition parties, such as consumption tax cuts, petrol tax reductions, and a significant raising of the income threshold. In terms of economic policy, she could likely coordinate more effectively with the opposition than Prime Minister Ishiba.
8)
The Ministry of Finance is most wary of this. As advocates of tax increases and fiscal consolidation, the Ministry would be troubled if Ms Takaichi, a proponent of expansionary fiscal policy, became president and pushed for tax cuts.
That is why they are deploying propaganda, using certain LDP politicians and the old media, claiming “a coalition cannot be formed with Takaichi”.
9)
The business community's core leadership likely shares this stance. Many Keidanren member corporations are deeply involved in China business.
They fear that a hawkish Prime Minister Takaichi would provoke China, adversely affecting their business interests. Hence, they share the Ministry of Finance's anti-Takaichi position."
《LDP Leadership Election》Major media outlets unanimously align with party and opposition efforts to undermine Sanae Takaichi. Behind the scenes lies the Ministry of Finance's desire to block tax cuts.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/618cff555e8f7fe055054bd8845e8d22e5ebee7e?page=1
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