Extra US$10 million for Shinzo Abe state funeral amid growing opposition from Japan’s taxpayers
- Last month, PM Fumio Kishida said US$1.7 million would be spent on the funeral of the former leader fatally shot during an election campaign speech in July
- Growing opposition, given Abe’s divisive political stances and various scandals, is prompting fears the outlay could trigger a strong backlash from the public
The Japanese government said on Tuesday that it will allocate an additional 1.4 billion yen (US$9.97 million) for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to cover costs for security and welcome foreign dignitaries, bringing the total price tag to over 1.6 billion yen (US$11.3 million).
With opposition to the slain former leader’s state funeral growing, given his divisive political stances and various scandals, the vastly larger outlays that draw on taxpayers’ money may trigger a strong backlash from the public, observers said.
Late last month, the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said it would spend 249 million yen (US$1.7 million) on the September 27 funeral for Abe, who a lone gunman fatally shot during an election campaign speech in early July.
Kishida said at the time that the total cost would be publicised after the funeral as it would vary depending on the number of foreign guests joining the event, but the government apparently felt forced to announce the figure in advance in consideration of intense public debate over the event.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference Tuesday that 800 million yen (US$5.6 million) will be used for security and 600 million (US$4.2 million) for arrangements to welcome foreign dignitaries expected to travel to Tokyo from around 50 countries.