TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday his governing party's major defeat in last weekend's by-elections was largely due to a political fundraising scandal and that he would not step down or replace party executives to take responsibility.
Instead, Kishida said he will push anti-corruption measures and political reforms.
“As I take the results seriously, I believe as president of the governing party we must tackle the challenges we face one by one and achieve results, and this is the way I will take responsibility," Kishida said. “By doing so, I will regain the people's trust.”
Kishida said the scandal dealt “a big and heavy hinderance” to the party. The scandal centers on dozens of lawmakers in Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party who allegedly pocketed profits from ticket sales to political events by falsifying accounting reports.
Asked if he would take responsibility for the election loss, Kishida denied he would step down or replace top LDP posts, and pledged to pursue party and political reforms, including a revision to the political funds laws. He also vowed to tackle economic issues.
The conservative Liberal Democratic Party lost all three seats in Sunday's parliamentary by-elections in Nagasaki, Shimane and Tokyo. Kishida’s party only fielded its own candidate in Shimane, a conservative stronghold, while the liberal-leaning main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan clinched all three seats previously held by LDP.
The loss is seen as a punishment by voters for the governing party's scandal, which erupted last year and has undermined Kishida’s leadership.
The party is unlikely to lose power because the opposition is fractured. But Sunday's defeat marks a further setback for Kishida, who will seek reelection as his party’s leader in the fall.
Political analysts say Kishida was hoping to call a snap election possibly after the current parliamentary session ends in late June, seeking to receive a public mandate, and then win another term in the party presidential vote in September.
Kishida's state visit to the U.S. earlier this month was perceived as a success, but Sunday's losses could erode his clout and LDP lawmakers may try to bring him down in favor of a fresh face ahead of the next general election.
Such a move would make it difficult for Kishida to run for another three-year term in the party's presidential race in September. As prime minister, he can call a snap election anytime before the current term for the lower house expires in October 2025.
Kishida on Tuesday denied he has plans to call for a snap election.
He has fought plummeting approval ratings since the corruption scandal broke. He has removed a number of Cabinet ministers and others from party executive posts, conducted internal hearings and drafted reform measures, but support for his government has dwindled to around 20%.
The scandal centers on unreported political funds raised through tickets sold for party events and involved more than 80 LDP lawmakers, mostly belonging to a major party faction previously led by assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ten people — lawmakers and their aides — were indicted in January.
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at his office in Tokyo Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Kishida acknowledged Tuesday that his governing party's major defeat in the weekend's by-elections was due to a slush fund scandal, but said he would not step down or replace party executives to take responsibility. (Kyodo News via AP)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Michael Siani hit his first career home run and drove in four runs, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Monday night.
Siani’s three-run homer into the right field bullpen capped a four-run fourth inning that gave the Cardinals a 5-0 lead. It was the first homer in 91 career plate appearances for Siani, who spent parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before being selected off waivers by the Cardinals last September.
“Just stay confident in myself, taking it one at-bat at a time, keeping it simple, you know, trusting my approach is going to be good, especially with runners in scoring position,” Siani said. “You know tonight getting those two hits is great and builds confidence and helps the team out.”
Sianni’s homer came two pitches after taking a ball down 0-2 that the Orioles thought was strike three, but home plate umpire Laz Diaz called ball one on the Dean Kremer fastball.
“I didn’t know it was a missed call until after, but I’m not here to complain,” Kremer said. “Just didn’t execute after that. Showed him one too many fastballs and he timed up that next one.”
Sonny Gray gave up three runs, just one earned, in 5 2/3 innings as the Cardinals won for the sixth time in their last eight games. Gray (6-2) allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six.
Gray took a no-hitter into the sixth only to have it unceremoniously ended by a three-run homer by Gunnar Henderson to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3. Henderson’s 417-foot blast to the left-center field bleachers scored Cedric Mullins and Jorge Mateo, each of whom reached on consecutive fielding errors by St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn. It was Henderson’s major league-leading 16th of the season and his fourth in as many games.
JoJo Romero got the final out of the sixth after Gray surrendered hits to Ryan O’Hearn and Jordan Westburg following the homer. Gray threw 31 of his 88 pitches in the sixth.
“I felt great the whole time,” Gray said. “That’s just a long inning deep in the game. I mean, I almost doubled my pitch count one inning. I felt good. I felt great going out for the sixth. I felt great probably 20 to 25 pitches through the sixth and then like I said, the last five or so I threw I just felt like that’s just a lot of pitches.”
Romero pitched a scoreless seventh and John King and Andrew Kittredge combined for a scoreless eighth, before Ryan Helsley earned his 14th save in 15 chances.
Kremer (3-4) lasted just four innings, tying a season-low, as the Orioles lost their fourth game in their last seven. Kremer allowed five runs on six hits, walked three and struck out two.
“I just didn’t think he had his best fastball tonight, honestly,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “I know he was getting ahead of hitters early, had a tough time putting guys away, the missed call on the punch out before the homer was big.”
Siani singled home Nolan Gorman to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second.
“Siani’s taking really good at-bats,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “A big homer today, the clubhouse is feeling pretty good about that now … he plays the game the right way and defensively, he’s elite.”
Winn ignited the four-run fourth with an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. Winn added an RBI single in the sixth to make it 6-3 Cardinals.
TRANSACTIONS
The Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Ryan Loutos and optioned RHP Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis. St. Louis also designated 1B/OF Alfonso Rivas III for assignment.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement) is scheduled to throw another bullpen on Tuesday and RHP Keynan Middleton (right forearm flexor strain) is scheduled to appear in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday as his rehab progresses at Double-A Springfield.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will send RHP Lance Lynn (1-2, 4.17 ERA) to the mound against RHP Kyle Brandish (0-0, 2.63) on Tuesday night. Lynn settled in to work five innings after allowing four first inning runs in a loss to the Angels last Wednesday. Brandish earned his first career win in his only prior start against St. Louis on May 10, 2022.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
Baltimore Orioles right fielder Colton Cowser catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, right, watches his three-run home run next to St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera, left, in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Gorman (16) is congratulated after scoring a run in the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after their victory over the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani watches his three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Siani (63), right, celebrates with teammate Masyn Winn, left, after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 20, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)
