Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was questioned on Wednesday March 13 in Parliament about a rally organized by members of his party where scantily clad dancers had been invited in the name of “
diversity”
.
In images broadcast by some media of the event held last November in Wakayama (West), organized by a regional branch of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), we could see women appearing to be dressed in bikinis sitting on the participants' knees.
These dancers were, according to several media, forced to receive with their mouths banknotes that participants were holding between their lips.
One of the organizers, Tetsuya Kawabata, sought to justify the event by assuring that the dancers had been invited
"after studying different points of view, in particular to find out if it corresponded to the theme of diversity"
.
“However, the excitement that followed, especially towards the end of this rally, exceeded my expectations
,” Tetsuya Kawabata, who served as head of the local committee's youth office, was quoted as saying by ANN television. .
He has since resigned from the party, according to local media.
“Inclusive and friendly society”
The PLD national youth committee apologized on Monday and announced that two elected representatives of Parliament who were present at this event would leave their positions at the youth office, but would retain their seats.
The affair is embarrassing for the PLD, which has been in power in the country almost continuously since its founding in 1955 and which seeks to bring more women into a political landscape dominated by men.
Last September, Fumio Kishida increased the number of women in his 20-member government to five, a record for Japan.
Questioned by opposition elected officials about the scandal, Fumio Kishida declared on Wednesday that the event
“did not correspond to the diversity objective”
of the executive.
“What my government is looking for is an inclusive and friendly society where everyone can flourish and where dignity and diversity are respected
,” assured Fumio Kishida, quoted by local media.
His government holds the unenviable record for the lowest popularity rating since the PLD returned to power in 2012, due in particular to inflation and scandals which have tarnished its image in recent months.
Fumio Kishida, in office since October 2021, must also face a difficult internal battle at the head of the PLD at the end of 2024, before the national elections scheduled for 2025.