TOKYO, December 14. /TASS/. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokadzu Matsuno announced on Thursday he was tendering his resignation amid a fundraising scandal within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The chief cabinet secretary coordinates the work of all ministries and agencies and also acts as the government’s spokesman. Former foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is expected to be appointed to the post.

Shortly after, it was announced that Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party Koichi Hagiuda was also stepping down.

Earlier in the day, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, Agriculture Minister Ichiro Miyashita and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Junji Suzuki also stepped down.

The scandal affects several LDP factions, including its largest faction once led by late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It had already caused the government’s approval rating to drop below to critical marks of around 23%.