June 1, 2012
Executive officials of the Ministry of Finance delivered lectures at universities nationwide to promote a consumption tax hike, Akahata revealed on June 1.
The lectures, held 12 times at 9 universities and a junior college last April and May, explained to students the government’s unified reform plan on taxation and social welfare systems, and most of the lectures took place at regular classes.
An official wrote on the MOF’s Facebook page that when he spoke to 150 freshmen at Saga University saying that he supported a tax hike, he stressed, “The reform plan is aiming to ease the future burden for young people.”
A president of one of the universities posted on his blog that the lecture was proposed by a head of a local office of the MOF.
The Finance Minister’s secretariat said that these lectures are part of the government’s public relations activities and do not contradict the law concerning the need for political neutrality of the civil service or violate university autonomy.
Meanwhile, a national university staff criticized the MOF for viewing universities as a medium to engage in public relations activities, and for threatening academic freedom.
The lectures, held 12 times at 9 universities and a junior college last April and May, explained to students the government’s unified reform plan on taxation and social welfare systems, and most of the lectures took place at regular classes.
An official wrote on the MOF’s Facebook page that when he spoke to 150 freshmen at Saga University saying that he supported a tax hike, he stressed, “The reform plan is aiming to ease the future burden for young people.”
A president of one of the universities posted on his blog that the lecture was proposed by a head of a local office of the MOF.
The Finance Minister’s secretariat said that these lectures are part of the government’s public relations activities and do not contradict the law concerning the need for political neutrality of the civil service or violate university autonomy.
Meanwhile, a national university staff criticized the MOF for viewing universities as a medium to engage in public relations activities, and for threatening academic freedom.
