Prosecutors have raided the offices of Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) amidst a raging political funding scandal that has plunged Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's approval ratings to dismal depths.
According to local media reports, investigators from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office scoured the offices of two prominent LDP factions, both linked to former Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe and Toshihiro Nikai. The raids were in response to allegations that party officials failed to declare a combined ¥600 million ($4.18 million) in fundraising proceeds, funneling the money into clandestine slush funds controlled by the factions.
LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi acknowledged the gravity of the situation, expressing deep regret over the raids and declaring that the party would take "appropriate measures" pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The scandal has sparked a wave of public outrage, further eroding the already fragile public trust in the LDP and Kishida's leadership. Last week, in an attempt to quell the uproar, Kishida dismissed four cabinet ministers implicated in the allegations, including the high-profile Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.
"The party must act with urgency to regain the public's trust," Kishida declared during a press conference. He further reiterated his commitment to restoring public confidence, vowing to "redouble his efforts" as LDP leader.
However, Kishida's cabinet reshuffle has failed to stem the tide of public disapproval. A recent opinion poll conducted by the Mainichi newspaper revealed that a staggering 79% of respondents disapproved of the government – a record high since the poll's inception in 1947. Similar polls conducted by the Asahi, Yomiuri, and Nikkei newspapers placed Kishida's approval rating at around 20%, the lowest for any prime minister since the LDP's return to power in 2012.
Despite the mounting political turmoil, Kishida remains unfazed, as he does not face a mandatory general election until October 2025. Furthermore, Japan's weak opposition parties have historically struggled to mount a credible challenge to the LDP's dominance.
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