Japan’s Takaichi faces backlash over US$190 victory gifts to ruling party lawmakers
The revelation that 315 MPs were asked to pick items from a gift catalogue evokes a slush-fund scandal that engulfed the party in 2023
Each of her party’s 315 MPs was given the option to choose an item from the catalogue “as an expression of appreciation for their success at this very tough election”, Takaichi wrote in a social media post, saying that no taxpayer money was used.
The news of the catalogues “could easily lead people to say, ‘Prime Minister Takaichi, you too?’” Junya Ogawa, the leader of the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, said on Tuesday.
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“This is a new development in which she will be strictly held accountable,” he wrote in a social media post.
Takaichi told parliament on Wednesday that the cost of each gift, plus shipping costs and tax, was around 30,000 yen (US$190) per person and was paid for by political funds from a party branch that she heads.