As criticism intensifies, “I will return the increase.”
Approval rating around 20%… Red light for re-election next year
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (pictured), whose approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since taking office, faced strong public criticism while pushing for a salary increase for cabinet members, including himself. Prime Minister Kishida hastily hinted at returning the increase to the national treasury, but it is pointed out that repeated mistakes in internal affairs have put a red light on the prime minister’s re-election in September next year.
According to Japanese media on the 9th, the Japanese government is preparing a bill to increase the salaries of special civil servants, such as the prime minister, ministers, and aides to the prime minister, to the level of general civil servants. If the bill passes the National Assembly, the Prime Minister’s salary will increase by 460,000 yen (about 4 million won) per year. The Japanese Prime Minister’s annual salary is about 40 million yen (about 348 million won).
Although the increase is small, the public who is suffering from high prices is not positive. In addition, in the process of pushing for a tax increase due to an increase in defense spending, there is a lot of backlash due to the so-called ‘prime minister’s salary self-increase’. There is also criticism within the ruling party that Prime Minister Kishida’s approval rating has recently fallen to the 20% range and that he has not been able to understand the mood of public opinion.
As the controversy intensifies, Prime Minister Kishida is considering returning the increase to the national treasury. Prime Minister Kishida previously appeared at the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors on the 1st and persuaded them, saying, “We are already returning 30% of our salary to the national treasury in order to promote administrative and financial reform,” but as criticism grew stronger, he announced that he would even return the increase. However, the wage increase bill itself is planned to be pushed forward as is. NHK reported, “(The government) believes that it is necessary to spread the trend of wage increases throughout society and plans to gain the understanding of the National Assembly.” According to Asahi TV, average salaries have barely increased in Japan over the past 30 years.
Japan’s main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and the second opposition party, the Japan Restoration Association, each announced that they would submit a revised bill to the National Assembly to freeze salaries.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.