JapanJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi submitted a statement from her secretary denying any involvement in alleged smear videos targeting political opponents during last year's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race and subsequent elections. The statement was presented to the ruling LDP's Budget Committee amid growing pressure from opposition parties, which criticized the move as insufficient to clarify the situation. Opposition groups argue that Takaichi has avoided directly addressing the allegations, relying instead on her secretary's account. The controversy began in late April when the magazine Shukan Bunshun reported that Takaichi's campaign allegedly hired an IT firm to create anonymous videos attacking her rivals, including Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. While Takaichi initially denied personal involvement in early May, inconsistencies in her explanations have intensified scrutiny. Her secretary admitted to attending an online meeting with someone linked to the alleged video creation but claimed no recollection of specific discussions. The opposition has since demanded further investigations, including summoning the secretary to parliament and holding specialdel
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the claims against Prime Minister Takaichi and her responses, including the submission of her secretary's statement, while highlighting the opposition's criticisms. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omissions that would indicate a clear sla
