LDP's Hagiuda: farm minister's budget remark “arrogance” not permissible
In short
LDP acting secretary-general Hagiuda Koichi criticised farm minister Yanai Kazuo over remarks that he cut road budgets for municipalities whose leaders did not support him in a lower house election, calling it “arrogance” that is “never permissible.” Hagiuda said Yanai must fulfil his accountability and that the secretary-general's office must not misuse its power over budgets. Yanai admitted and retracted the remark and apologised on Oct. 5, but denied pushing for budget cuts, Mainichi reported.
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LDP acting secretary-general Hagiuda Koichi on Oct. 6 criticised remarks by agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister Yanai Kazuo about budgets for local governments, saying that if Yanai was carrying out his duties with such thinking at the time, it was “arrogance” and “never permissible.” Speaking at a press conference at party headquarters, Hagiuda also said Yanai “must make efforts to dispel the public's concern” and “fulfil his accountability.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Mainichi and TBS, Yanai said while serving as the party's top deputy secretary-general that road budgets were cut for municipalities whose leaders did not support him in the lower house election. TBS placed the statement in May, at a meeting of his local LDP branch, and said he described budgets being “greatly cut.” Asahi, citing a partial media report, quoted him as saying “if you tell them to come to the secretary-general's office, this can be done.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hagiuda said the secretary-general's office serves as the party's command post and is undeniably in a position to hear more detailed explanations about policy coordination with ministries and about budgets than other departments. “That is exactly why the use of power must not be mistaken,” he said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Mainichi reported that Yanai admitted the remark on Oct. 5, retracted it and apologised, while denying that he had worked to have budgets cut. The other documents do not report his response. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The dispute concerns whether a senior lawmaker linked budget treatment of local governments to their support in elections, an issue Hagiuda addressed by saying power must not be used wrongly. It also puts a ruling-party minister under criticism from his own party's leadership, with an acting secretary-general demanding that he explain himself. How far the accountability demand goes is not stated in the documents.
Key facts
- LDP acting secretary-general Hagiuda Koichi said on Oct. 6 that if farm minister Yanai Kazuo acted on such thinking while in office, it was “arrogance” and “never permissible.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hagiuda said Yanai must make efforts to dispel public concern and fulfil his accountability. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hagiuda said the secretary-general's office is in a position to hear more detailed explanations about policy coordination with ministries and budgets, and that power therefore must not be used wrongly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Yanai, while serving as the party's top deputy secretary-general, said at a meeting of his local LDP branch in May that road budgets had been greatly cut, according to TBS. [ 3 ]
- Yanai was reported to have said he cut road budgets of municipalities whose heads did not support him in the lower house election, and that “if you tell them to come to the secretary-general's office, this can be done.” [ 1 , 2 ]
- Yanai admitted and retracted the remark and apologised on Oct. 5, while denying any effort to cut budgets, Mainichi reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hagiuda Koichi, LDP acting secretary-general, on Oct. 6 criticised farm minister Yanai Kazuo's remarks as arrogance that cannot be permitted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hagiuda said the secretary-general's office is positioned to hear detailed explanations on policy coordination with ministries and budgets, and that power must not be misused. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Yanai actually worked to cut budgets for municipalities whose leaders did not support him. Yanai denied pushing for budget cuts, according to Mainichi, while TBS reported he described budgets being greatly cut; the documents do not resolve the difference.
- The election the remark was tied to and its date. Mainichi ties the remark to a lower house election and TBS places the statement in May at a local party branch meeting, but neither gives the election date.
- Whether the reported remark about the secretary-general's office was confirmed. Asahi attributes it only to a partial media report when Yanai was top deputy secretary-general.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yanai, then LDP top deputy secretary-general, says at a meeting of his local party branch that road budgets were greatly cut, according to TBS. [ 3 ]
- Yanai admits and retracts the remark and apologises, while denying any push to cut budgets, Mainichi reports. [ 1 ]
- Mainichi publishes its report on Hagiuda's criticism of Yanai. [ 1 ]
- Asahi publishes its report quoting Hagiuda at the party headquarters press conference as saying such thinking is “arrogance” and “never permissible.” [ 2 ]
- TBS reports Hagiuda's remark that “power must not be used wrongly.” [ 3 ]