Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Considers Suspension of Abe Faction Executives over Political Fund Scandals
13:23 JST, January 19, 2024
The Liberal Democratic Party will hold faction executives accountable for failing to prevent a series of alleged payments of off-the-book monies from the factions to their members, and is considering disciplinary measures under party regulations, several LDP sources said.
The measures will come independent of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office’s special investigation squad probe of the scandal and are intended to show the party putting its foot down on the matter. Proposed penalties include suspension of posts.
Those to be penalized will likely mainly be Abe faction members suspected of turning a total of over ¥570 million into hidden funds through kickbacks from sales of political fundraising party tickets.
The executives in mind include former Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno; former Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura; the party’s former Diet Affairs Committee Chairperson Tsuyoshi Takagi; former Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Ryu Shionoya.
Matsuno and Nishimura served the faction’s secretary general, while Takagi is the incumbent. Shionoya is the faction’s coordinator.
The LDP deems any acts tarnishing the integrity of the party as punishable. Penalties include warnings, suspension from positions, no election endorsements, membership suspensions, admonition to leave the party and expulsion.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Presidential Race for Japan’s LDP Hinges on ‘Change’; Younger Politicians Prepare to Jump In
-
Ishiba Favored by Older Voters, Koizumi by Young in LDP Presidential Race, Says Poll
-
Japan’s LDP Presidential Candidates Time Announcements of Runs; Better to Gain Attention Now or Quietly Build Support?
-
Japan’s Ishiba Announces Final Bid for LDP President; Ishiba Vows to Establish LDP that Will ‘Abide by the Rules’
-
Japanese Government Tells Australia of Willingness to Cooperate in Building Warships; New Model Based on Mogami-Class Frigate
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Nankai Trough Megaquake Tsunami could Hit in 2 Minutes; Japan Authorities Urge Caution after Recent Earthquake
- Typhoon Shanshan Forms, Slowly Moves Toward Japan; Govt Says Typhoon No. 10 Likely to Approach Japan Next Week
- Typhoon Ampil Approaching Japan
- Shizuoka Pref. City Offers Foreigners Free Japanese Language Classes; Aims to Raise Non-Natives to Daily Conversation Level
- Tokyo Companies Prepare for Ashfall From Mt. Fuji Eruption; Disposal Of Ash, Possibly at Sea, A Major Challenge