Japan PM apologizes for party's church links

TOKYO－Amid sliding approval ratings, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized for his party's links with the controversial Unification Church, vowing to win back public trust by severing such ties and tightening vigilance over political activities.

Revelations of long-running links between some lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, and the church have become a headache for Kishida. Not only has his popularity slumped, they have also fanned opposition to a state funeral planned for former leader Shinzo Abe.

Abe's suspected assassin bore a grudge against the church, alleging it bankrupted his mother, and blamed Abe for promoting it, according to his social media posts and news reports.

Appearing at his first in-person news conference as he emerged from COVID-19 quarantine, Kishida said politicians have a duty to be mindful of their relationship with "problematic" organizations.

While members of his cabinet had previously pledged to examine their own relationships with the Unification Church, Kishida said on Wednesday that the LDP would go a step further to make it "party policy" to end such ties and step up compliance.

"There are still many people who are concerned and suspicious of strong ties … due to a number of media reports on the matter," Kishida told the news conference.

"For this, I offer my sincere apologies as the president of the LDP."

Kishida reshuffled his cabinet on Aug 10 and removed some cabinet members with ties to the church in an attempt to bolster support, to little avail so far. An Asahi newspaper poll over the weekend showed support for the cabinet at 47 percent, down 10 points from July.

Kishida also faces persistent opposition to the planned taxpayer-funded state funeral for Abe, but defended the decision given the late premier's standing both domestically and internationally. Abe divided opinions deeply despite being Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

The funeral, to be held on Sept 27 at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan hall, will cost about 250 million yen ($1.8 million) excluding outlays for security and the reception of overseas dignitaries, the government said.

Agencies via Xinhua