Japanese ministers and deputies resign over corruption scandal

(Patria) - Four Japanese ministers have resigned as unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida faces pressure over a major corruption scandal in the ruling party, AFP reported.

The cabinet crisis comes amid allegations of 500 million yen ($3.4 million) kickbacks to the faction-ridden Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed the world's third-largest economy for almost uninterrupted decades. Prosecutors are expected to begin raids on offices and interviews with dozens of lawmakers later this week, according to media.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno confirmed he was stepping down, and that Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Home Affairs Minister Junji Suzuki and Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita had also resigned. Michiko Ueno, a special advisor to the prime minister, is also leaving, as are five deputy ministers, Matsuno, who is also the government's chief spokesman, told reporters.

Kishida said the previous day that he would face the allegations "directly".

"I will make all-out efforts and lead the LDP to regain public trust," he said.

The prime minister's approval rating is the worst for any premier since the LDP returned to power in 2012, amid voter anger over inflation as well as his handling of a series of earlier scandals.

The money allegedly went to party members who exceeded their quotas for selling tickets to party gatherings.

"If you are confident that you can sell (tickets), if you sell more than you are obliged to sell, all of that will become your income, so it is easy and great," a senior official, who once worked in an LDP lawmaker's office, told media with his face hidden and voice disguised.

The latest scandal involves the largest faction within the LDP, which was led by former prime minister Shinzo Abe before his assassination last year. A group recently led by Kishida himself is also suspected of failing to report more than 20 million yen over three years up to 2020, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper writes.

Kishida can govern until 2025, but speculation is rife that he could call a snap election before likely tough internal LDP votes next year.