Japan PM Ishiba Admits Gifting 100,000 yen Certificates to New Lawmakers

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has come under scrutiny for distributing gift vouchers worth 100,000 yen each to rookie lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party, an act he claims does not violate the political funds control law. Ishiba stated that the vouchers, which were intended as tokens of appreciation for the lawmakers' families and funded from his own pocket, were returned by all recipients after media reports sparked criticism. Despite his insistence that the practice is legal, opposition lawmakers have expressed concerns and some have called for his resignation amid ongoing slush fund scandals affecting the ruling party. Ishiba acknowledged the situation has caused public concern but ruled out stepping down, asserting that his intentions were good. The incident occurred on March 3, during a gathering at the prime minister's residence, and follows increased scrutiny of the LDP's practices in light of recent controversies. The prime minister's actions have raised questions about political ethics in Japan.