“You can’t predict the international situation in Ukraine, Israel, etc… It’s an urgent year.”
To mark the New Year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized restoring public trust regarding the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s political funding issue.
In his New Year’s address posted on the Prime Minister’s Office website on the 1st, Prime Minister Kishida said, “Political stability is necessary to keep pace with the implementation of policies,” and added, “I will do my best to restore public trust by taking the lead in the issue of political funding of the Liberal Democratic Party’s political group.” “I am determined to do my best,” he said.
In Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, allegations of long-term slush funds by the largest faction, the Abe faction, have recently emerged. It is known that a total of 500 million yen (approximately 4.6 billion won) of slush funds were created between 2018 and 2022, and the Tokyo District Prosecutors’ Office Special Department is currently investigating the allegations.
Prime Minister Kishida said on this day, “The economy has been at the highest level in 30 years with wage increases, facility investment, and stock prices.” He added, “This year, 30 years after the bubble burst, the Japanese economy has completely broken away from the deflationary psychology and shrinking focus on cost reduction.” “I want to make it a year,” he said.
In this context, the need to increase wages to exceed the increase in prices in a high inflation situation, flat rate cuts in income and resident taxes, aggressive facility investment in the green and digital sectors, flexible labor movement, and flexibility in the flow of companies and funds were mentioned.
In the field of diplomacy, he said, “This year is an urgent year,” and “the international situation, such as the invasion of Ukraine and the situation in Israel and Palestine, cannot be predicted.” In addition, he mentioned the US presidential election and major elections in Asia and Europe that will be held this year.
Prime Minister Kishida said, “It is necessary to use diplomatic power to overcome difficulties and demonstrate Japan’s unique leadership,” and added, “We will actively pursue summit diplomacy again this year.” In addition, he also said that he would protect his country from security threats such as Russia and North Korea.
He said that his country is facing an era of great change, and emphasized, “Japan has caught the flow and used change as strength in times of great change, such as the Meiji Restoration, post-war revival, and rapid growth,” and added, “Tomorrow will be better than today.” He expressed his New Year’s resolution.
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.