Japanese premier to step down from ruling party faction: Report

ISTANBUL

Under fire over a political funds scandal, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will step down from a leading faction in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Kishida decided to step down as chief of his faction in the party, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported, citing an unnamed source close to the prime minister.

The ruling party is under fire amid allegations that five of its intra-party factions “underreported their revenue from political fundraising parties, from which the extra income may have been returned to some lawmakers as kickbacks.”

Kishida has been leading one such faction since assuming office in October 2021. The party has 370 lawmakers in the parliament.

“The party factions have traditionally set their lawmakers quotas for party tickets, usually priced at 20,000 yen ($1,362). If they surpass their targets, the extra income is returned as kickbacks in some intraparty groups,” the report said.

Under Kishida, the Japanese government cabinet has also witnessed the lowest public ratings.

Besides, reports have claimed that Kishida met members of controversial Unification Church members. But he has denied any links with the cult.