Japan PM Kishida dismisses internal affairs minister

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has dismissed another Cabinet minister. Internal affairs minister Terada Minoru has been under fire over a series of allegations of inaccurate political funding reports. Kishida has now lost three ministers in just one month.

"A number of Cabinet ministers have resigned during the Diet session. I sincerely apologize and deeply feel my responsibility for appointing them," Kishida said.

The prime minister summoned Terada to the prime minister's office on Sunday evening and dismissed him.

Terada had come under scrutiny after a group related to his political funding was found to have listed a dead person as his accountant.

Opposition parties had been calling on Kishida to replace Terada, saying he was unfit to lead the internal affairs ministry, which oversees the political funds control law.

Terada is a member of a faction led by Kishida. He was appointed a minister for the first time in the Cabinet reshuffle this summer.

The prime minister is expected to appoint former Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki as Terada's successor.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221121_09/