高市氏、「罷免仕方ない」　防衛増税への批判巡り

　高市早苗経済安全保障担当相は１３日の閣議後記者会見で、防衛費増額の財源を賄うための増税方針を批判したことについて、「間違ったことは言っていない」と述べた。その上で、「閣僚の任命権は首相にあるので、罷免されるならそれは仕方ない」との考えを示した。
　防衛財源の確保を巡っては、岸田文雄首相が８日の政府与党政策懇談会で、一部を増税で賄う方針を表明。これに対し高市氏は１０日、「賃上げマインドを冷やす発言をこのタイミングで発信された総理の真意が理解できない」と自身のツイッターに投稿し、首相を批判していた。（2022/12/13-12:43）

Japan's economic security minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday stood by her earlier criticism of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's plan to raise taxes to finance an increase in defense spending.
   "I didn't say anything wrong," Takaichi said at a press conference. "The prime minister has the authority to appoint cabinet ministers, so if I'm removed from office, that can't be helped."
   Takaichi slammed the tax hike plan on Saturday, saying in a Twitter post that she "can't understand the prime minister's true intentions in making a statement that may chill mindsets over raising wages at this time."
   The criticism came after Kishida on Thursday instructed the ruling parties to consider tax hikes to secure some 1 trillion yen to partially cover higher defense spending.
   Takaichi said at the press conference that she spoke with Kishida on Monday night about financing defense spending. The minister told Kishida that the government should look at how much wages will be increased in 2023 and then think about the fund sources from fiscal 2024 onward, but the two failed to reach an agreement.