LDP Presidential Election: Lawyer Noriko Miwa Questions Candidates’ Policies

On⁣ September 8, lawyer Noriko Miwa appeared ⁤live on TBS’s “Sunday Morning” and questioned the policies being advocated by candidates in the LDP‌ presidential ⁢election. The⁢ election, with nominations announced on September 12 and voting on September 27, has six candidates vying for the top spot.

The candidates, including former Minister of State for Economic and ⁣Security Takayuki Kobayashi, former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, Minister of Digital Affairs Taro Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Secretary-General Toshimitsu‌ Motegi,⁤ and former Minister of the​ Environment Junichiro Koizumi, have begun to debate their policies.

Ishiba has proposed increasing the financial income tax rate to⁢ strengthen taxation on the wealthy, while Motegi has suggested abolishing policy⁤ activity expenses.‍ Koizumi,​ on ​the other hand, has proposed introducing a system of optional separate surnames for⁤ married couples,⁤ a move that has drawn strong opposition‍ within the party.

However, many of these policies are ones that opposition parties ‍have been calling for for⁢ some time. Miwa expressed⁢ his skepticism, saying, “When I⁣ watched the presidential election, everyone was saying, ‘Well, ​then why haven’t you ‌done this until now?’ The opposition parties were pointing out what people ‌were saying. So there are‍ a lot ‌of people who are saying that the opposition parties were right.”

Miwa’s ‌comments raise questions about the significance of the LDP continuing to hold power. He⁢ appealed to voters, saying, “Then why the LDP? I think everyone should ask that ‍question.” ⁤He also expressed his doubts about the⁤ candidates’ ability to implement their proposed policies,⁤ saying, “Furthermore, I don’t know if they⁤ can do⁣ it or not, but now they are ‌fighting the presidential election saying ⁤they will ⁣do something‍ that the opposition parties ⁢have been asking them to ⁤do for a long ⁣time… I really wonder who they are doing this for.”

One issue that has been⁣ largely absent from the ⁢policy debate is the World ⁤Peace ‍Unification Family (formerly the Unification Church). Miwa pointed out, “Of course there’s⁤ the slush fund issue,‌ but I think the Unification Church issue, which came up ​even before ⁢the slush fund issue, is also being swept under the⁢ rug.” He⁣ emphasized ⁤the⁣ need for clarity on this issue, saying, “Regarding that issue as well, he⁣ should clarify what ⁢he is going to do as a leader, and I feel that this is not being‌ made clear.”