Japan cabinet spokesman under pressure to resign over slush fund

Scandal reaches Matsuno, PM Kishida's right-hand man, in new blow to government

20231208N Kishida Matsuno

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno at a lower house budget committee meeting. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)

RIEKO MIKI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the top spokesman for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government, faces growing pressure to step down over allegations that he had concealed fundraising income.

The slush fund scandal rocking the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has ensnared a number of lawmakers. But Matsuno's suspected involvement comes as a serious blow to a cabinet already reeling from sliding public support.

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