Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Jōnai (城内) denied some reports that he had mentioned a request to postpone the vote when the BOJ raised rates in June, saying, “There is absolutely no truth to the claim that I mentioned it.” The BOJ decided to raise its policy rate that month.
Minister Jōnai (城内) denied some reports that, in connection with the BOJ’s June Monetary Policy Meeting, he had mentioned a “request to postpone the vote,” under which the government would ask the BOJ to delay its decision. He said he had not been interviewed and described the reports as “extremely regrettable.”
The reports said that he had mentioned a request to postpone the vote in a conversation with a senior Cabinet Office official, but Minister Jōnai denied the claim and also referred to the lack of sufficient fact-checking.
The BOJ decided to raise its policy rate at its June meeting, and the reporters referred to this point. Minister Jōnai said it was inappropriate to suggest that the frequency of his attendance affected monetary policy, and explained that he intended to continue attending in the future as part of his legitimate duties.