Kishida’s $35 Billion Handout Unlikely to Pave Way for Election
- Tax rebates of $250 a head offset by loss of energy subsidies
- Tighter funding regulation fails to dispel voter distrust
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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s $35 billion plan to shore up support with a one-time tax rebate looks unlikely to spark either a strong resurgence of consumer spending or a jump in his opinion poll ratings ahead of a September party leadership election.
Under the plan, about 95 million taxpayers earning ¥20 million ($127,300) or less annually, along with their dependents, are slated to receive rebates of ¥40,000 per person starting from June.