Photo/Illutration Rui Matsukawa, center, director of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Women’s Affairs Division, lets off steam in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris with other LDP members. She deleted the photo, taken during a recent research trip, from her account after a backlash spread on social media. (Captured from social media)

Members of a ruling Liberal Democratic Party research mission to France are facing a backlash on social media over touristy photos posted online that include one of them pulling silly poses in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

On July 27, Upper House member Rui Matsukawa, who heads the LDP’s Women’s Affairs Division and led the group to Paris, posted several photos taken during the visit.

Matsukawa, meeting reporters Aug. 1 at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, referred to “inappropriate posts on social media.”

She said she had received a dressing down from Yuko Obuchi, the chairwoman of the LDP’s Party Organization and Campaign Headquarters.

She deleted some of the images the previous day.

“I apologize for causing any misunderstanding,” she said. “I didn’t mean to give the impression that the trip was anything but a serious program full of content.”

The snapshots included ones taken inside the Luxembourg Palace of the French Senate and a commemorative photo in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Matsukawa also shared a photo of the members mimicking the Eiffel Tower in front of the famed landmark.

Social media was awash with unflattering comments.

One person wrote that “her way of thinking deviates far from pubic standards” while another said the photos look “like they were taken on a school trip.

“How could she (post such flippant photos) while people are struggling with tax hikes and high prices?” one person asked.

The online posts said 38 people took part in the tour, including four Diet lawmakers and local assembly members.

The group spent three nights in Paris. Their expenses were covered by party funds. Extras were funded by the members themselves, according to the online posts.

“Given that the party sent them, taxpayer’s money could have been used in the form of political party subsidies,” said political analyst Atsuo Ito. “She (Matsukawa) should never have posted photos that could be interpreted as a sightseeing trip.”

According to her posts, the LDP members exchanged opinions with members of France’s two legislative chambers on issues ranging from declining birthrates to the promotion of women in society.

“Although the exact content of the program is unknown, I hope that it proved to be fruitful,” Ito said.

“Considering the fact that the high cost of living has made it difficult for some people to travel abroad, Matsukawa could have anticipated the kind of reaction her photos would generate,” he said.

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