Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and three other Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers received formal warnings from the party for walking out before a vote on a bill that would cut the food‑consumption tax, the Tokyo‑based Xinhua news agency reported on Nov. 9.
Xinhua noted that the warnings marked the first time a former Japanese prime minister was subject to disciplinary action in the party’s history. It said the LDP’s decision came after the four lawmakers had left the floor during the vote, reportedly to avoid the motion’s outcome.
The Asahi Shimbun had reported earlier on Monday that the LDP had issued the warnings, although it did not specify the amount the lawmakers were fined or the precise party procedures used.
Neither the party nor the lawmakers have released a statement confirming the specifics of the disciplinary measures. The news outlet’s report remains the only source that confirms the warnings were formally issued and that the case is unprecedented for a former prime minister.
Until an official party communiqué or a statement from the lawmakers themselves is released, the details of the disciplinary action—including the exact scope of the warnings and any potential penalties—remain unconfirmed.
