Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Faces Criticism for Shifting Stance on Key Issues

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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Faces Criticism for Shifting Stance on Key Issues

In his debut Diet debate as Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba encountered criticism for reversing his previous stances on important matters, notably the proposal to permit married couples to have different surnames. The main opposition, represented by Harumi Yoshida from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, challenged Ishiba during an extraordinary session, questioning his intentions to amend the existing laws that mandate couples to share a surname. Ishiba, in response, avoided revealing his personal standpoint on the issue, emphasizing the necessity for the government to conduct a thorough examination considering the diverse views among the public.

Despite his firm support for introducing a dual-surname system during the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election, Ishiba appeared to backtrack on this stance during the recent Diet session. He refrained from affirming his backing for the legal change, thus evading a clear expression of his position and the potential implications of such a modification on families. The shift in Ishiba's stance has raised concerns and criticisms, especially considering his past assertions about addressing the challenges faced by couples unable to choose their surname, indicating a perceived inconsistency in his position on the matter.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister also faced scrutiny for stepping back from his earlier commitment to hike taxes on capital gains as part of fostering a transition from savings to investments. Contradicting his previous statements during the LDP election where he advocated for increased taxes on investment-related incomes, Ishiba indicated that he is currently not contemplating a specific tax raise. This apparent reversal in his tax policy approach has attracted attention and skepticism, particularly amid broader discussions on economic strategies and financial reforms in Japan.