Japan PM Denies He Will Step Down      04/30 06:12

   

   TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday his 
governing party's major defeat in last weekend's by-elections was largely due 
to a political fundraising scandal and that he would not step down or replace 
party executives to take responsibility.

   Instead, Kishida said he will push anti-corruption measures and political 
reforms.

   "As I take the results seriously, I believe as president of the governing 
party we must tackle the challenges we face one by one and achieve results, and 
this is the way I will take responsibility," Kishida said. "By doing so, I will 
regain the people's trust."

   Kishida said the scandal dealt "a big and heavy hinderance" to the party. 
The scandal centers on dozens of lawmakers in Kishida's Liberal Democratic 
Party who allegedly pocketed profits from ticket sales to political events by 
falsifying accounting reports.

   Asked if he would take responsibility for the election loss, Kishida denied 
he would step down or replace top LDP posts, and pledged to pursue party and 
political reforms, including a revision to the political funds laws. He also 
vowed to tackle economic issues.

   The conservative Liberal Democratic Party lost all three seats in Sunday's 
parliamentary by-elections in Nagasaki, Shimane and Tokyo. Kishida's party only 
fielded its own candidate in Shimane, a conservative stronghold, while the 
liberal-leaning main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan 
clinched all three seats previously held by LDP.

   The loss is seen as a punishment by voters for the governing party's 
scandal, which erupted last year and has undermined Kishida's leadership.

   The party is unlikely to lose power because the opposition is fractured. But 
Sunday's defeat marks a further setback for Kishida, who will seek reelection 
as his party's leader in the fall.

   Political analysts say Kishida was hoping to call a snap election possibly 
after the current parliamentary session ends in late June, seeking to receive a 
public mandate, and then win another term in the party presidential vote in 
September.

   Kishida's state visit to the U.S. earlier this month was perceived as a 
success, but Sunday's losses could erode his clout and LDP lawmakers may try to 
bring him down in favor of a fresh face ahead of the next general election.

   Such a move would make it difficult for Kishida to run for another 
three-year term in the party's presidential race in September. As prime 
minister, he can call a snap election anytime before the current term for the 
lower house expires in October 2025.

   Kishida on Tuesday denied he has plans to call for a snap election.

   He has fought plummeting approval ratings since the corruption scandal 
broke. He has removed a number of Cabinet ministers and others from party 
executive posts, conducted internal hearings and drafted reform measures, but 
support for his government has dwindled to around 20%.

   The scandal centers on unreported political funds raised through tickets 
sold for party events and involved more than 80 LDP lawmakers, mostly belonging 
to a major party faction previously led by assassinated former Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe. Ten people -- lawmakers and their aides -- were indicted in January.