Former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, a senior figure in the Liberal Democratic Party, has voiced caution over the LDP's landslide victory in Japan's House of Representatives election, saying it "is not a blank check" for Prime Minister Takaichi.
According to Japan's FNN on the 9th, Ishiba was asked whether the election results should be interpreted as a mandate for the Takaichi administration. He responded that "this represents trust based on expectations," adding that "winning many seats does not mean they can do whatever they want. The sudden dissolution meant policy reviews within the party were not adequately conducted."
Ishiba secured his 14th consecutive term after winning overwhelming support in Tottori Prefecture's 1st district.
He particularly emphasized that "the election was held without sufficient discussion on major issues such as alternative revenue sources for consumption tax cuts, the three non-nuclear principles, and the three principles on arms exports." He stressed that "evaluation based on actual results will be important going forward."
Ishiba also offered sharp criticism of the consumption tax cut debate. "Tax cuts without alternative revenue sources lead to fiscal deterioration, currency depreciation, rising interest rates, and inflation. Even an elementary school student can understand this," he said. "Rather than tax cuts for immediate relief, it is preferable to invest in preventive healthcare so citizens do not fall into conditions requiring long-term care, thereby reducing future anxieties."