TOKYO: & nbsp, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose approval ratings have fallen to their lowest since taking office, apologized on Friday ( August 4 ) for errors in a government initiative to combine people’s tax and social security information into one identification card.
One of Kishida’s lawmakers resigned earlier today as deputy secretary amid claims that he had accepted gifts from a storm energy company, adding to his problems heading into the trip.
At a media conference held in an effort to allay public concerns about the identification card strategy, Kishida said,” I apologize for the problems that have spread among the people.”
After mistakes in its implementation were discovered, common annoyance with the drive for a solitary” My Number” card program has grown.
Such accidents have included welfare payments being made to the wrong people and the incorrect social protection bill being linked to women’s health coverage details.
According to a Yomiuri paper surveys conducted in July, 35 % of people no longer support the Kishida management. 52 % of respondents to the same survey did not support the government.
According to common journalist NHK, Tokyo prosecutors raided Masatoshi Akimoto’s department earlier in the day on suspicion that he accepted bribes totaling tens of millions of yen.
Later, the foreign ministry declared Akimoto to have resigned from his position as sin minister.
Kishida said he was” extremely upset that the condition has turned into one that sows distrust among the people” during his news event but declined to comment directly on Akimoto, citing the ongoing research.
When asked if the alleged bribes from a renewable energy company might be seen as taking advantage of Japan’s energy policy, Kishida only responded that it was” unwavering” in its approach to energy.
There were no returns of names to Akimoto’s business. Hirokazu Matsuno, the government’s director, said Akimoto had never discussed the matter with him and declined to comment.
Tokyo lawyers believe Japan Wind Development Co. paid bribes to Akimoto, according to state broadcaster NHK and other media.
The Tokyo-based business declined to comment and directed inquiries to its attorney. Reuters was unable to get in touch with the bank’s attorney for opinion.
According to the Sankei magazine, a attorney representing the company’s leader denied bribery. & nbsp,