４候補、財政健全化目標先送り　自民総裁選

　自民党総裁選に立候補した４候補は１８日、インターネット番組で、基礎的財政収支（プライマリーバランス）を２０２５年度に黒字化する政府の財政健全化目標を先送りする考えを示した。河野太郎規制改革担当相は、「新型コロナウイルスの影響が続く間は先送りせざるを得ない」と指摘。岸田文雄前政調会長も「必要であれば先延ばしも考えなければいけない。目標ありきではなく、やるべき順番を間違えてはならない」と語った。
　野田聖子幹事長代行は、日本経済は有事にあるとして「今お金を使わないと（経済が）底抜けして次がない事態だ。ペンディング（保留）だ」と主張。高市早苗前総務相は、２％の物価安定目標を達成するまで凍結するとの考えを重ねて示した。（2021/09/18-20:28）

All four candidates for leadership of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party Saturday expressed their intention to postpone the government's goal of achieving a primary budget surplus by fiscal 2025.
   Speaking at an online talk show, regulatory reform minister Taro Kono said that the fiscal reform goal "needs to be postponed as long as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic persist."
   Fumio Kishida, former chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council, said, "We need to consider postponing the goal when necessary." He said, "We shouldn't stick to a goal."
   Seiko Noda, the party's executive acting secretary-general, said, "We need to spend money" as the Japanese economy is in an emergency. The goal "will be put on hold," she said.
   Former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi reiterated that the goal should be frozen until the Japanese economy achieves 2 pct inflation.