November 8, 2026

TOKYO -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is considering disciplinary action against former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and three other lawmakers who walked out before voting on a bill related to consumption tax cuts, local media reported Sunday.

The House of Representatives voted on the bill on Friday, which was promoted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government. Although the bill was passed by the lower house, it faced opposition from opposition parties and some LDP lawmakers over concerns, including a lack of clarity about funding sources.

Ishiba, along with former Director-General of the Economic Planning Agency Hajime Funada, former Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa and former LDP Election Strategy Committee Chairman Yuko Obuchi, left the chamber before the vote and did not cast their ballots.

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https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202611/08/WS6af04901e4b03ebf8519b211.html