消費増税、１０年は不要　菅氏「安倍首相と同じ考え」

　自民党総裁選に立候補している菅義偉官房長官は１１日の記者会見で、消費税率引き上げについて「安倍晋三首相はかつて『今後１０年ぐらい上げる必要はない』と発言している。私も同じ考えだ」と述べ、従来の政府方針に変わりはなく、将来的な課題との認識を強調した。
　菅氏は１０日夜のテレビ番組で「行政改革を徹底して行った上で、消費税は引き上げざるを得ない」と明言していた。発言には与党から戸惑う声が出ているほか、野党も次期衆院選の主要な争点と位置付ける構えを示しており、軌道修正を図ったとみられる。
　菅氏は１０日の発言について「将来的な話として答えた。あくまでも（１０年後の）その先のことを念頭に置いた話だ」と釈明。「今後も当面は新型コロナウイルス対策、さらには経済再生に全力で取り組んでいきたい」と述べるとともに、「経済を再生させなければ財政健全化はない」と語った。（2020/09/11-12:19）

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the leading candidate in the presidential race of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, indicated Friday that it will not be necessary to raise the consumption tax rate for about a decade.
   "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said that 'there is no need to raise the consumption tax for about 10 years,' and I agree with him," Suga told a news conference, suggesting that the government's stance on the matter has not changed and that a potential further hike in the tax rate will be for future discussions.
   Suga adjusted his position after his remarks on the tax the previous day sent ripples through the LDP-led ruling coalition ahead of the party's leadership election on Monday and a vote for the country's next prime minister in the Diet, the country's parliament, on Wednesday.
   He said in a television program on Thursday night, "We need to raise the consumption tax after conducting thorough administrative reforms."
   Over the remarks, Suga said at the news conference, "I talked about a consumption tax hike as an issue for the future, keeping the situation after 10 years from now in mind."