Japan’s Kishida Orders Temporary Tax Cuts Ahead of By-Elections

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed his ruling party executives to consider introducing temporary tax cuts, days before two special elections in which his ruling party faces tough opposition to hold onto its seats.

“I instructed that measures be considered to return something to the people, including income tax cuts,” Kishida told reporters after meeting the policy chiefs of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito late on Friday. He added he had asked for the policies to be drawn up quickly.