Former PM Ishiba and three others reprimanded by LDP over abstention on consumption tax cut bill

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has decided to issue formal reprimands to former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and three other lawmakers who abstained from the vote on a consumption tax cut bill. The decision was reached at a party executive meeting on the afternoon of the 9th, attended by Prime Minister Takaichi. The party had previously excluded former presidents from disciplinary action, so the move toward Ishiba is described as an unusual step.

• Four lawmakers abstained in the vote on the bill
• Those reprimanded include Ishiba, Obuchi, Funada and Furukawa
• It is the first time a former party president has been disciplined

消費減税関連法案の採決を棄権した石破前総理大臣ら4人について、自民党は戒告処分とすることを決めました。総裁経験者が処分されるのは今回が初めてです。 　自民党は9日午後、高市総理大臣も出席する役員会で対応を協議し、6日に消費減税関連法案の採決を棄権した石破前総理、小渕元経済産業大臣、船田元経済企画庁長官、古川元法務大臣の4人を戒告処分とすることを決めました。 　自民党は、これまで総裁経験者については処分の対象外としていて、今回の石破前総理大臣については異例の対応となります。