Donated 4 million yen to the Liberal Branch of Reiko Kato

Donated 4 million yen to the Liberal Branch of Reiko Kato, Parliamentary Secretary

A branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, represented by Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment, Reiko Kato, received a donation of 4 million yen from a local construction company that received an order for public works in the country just before the date of the announcement of the House of Representatives election I understand. The Public Office Election Law prohibits companies that undertake public works in the country from making donations regarding national elections. The Liberal Democratic Party branch said, “I want to confirm thoroughly in the future.”

According to the report on the balance of political funds, the “Liberal Democratic Party Yamagata Prefectural Third Election District”, represented by Parliamentary Vice-Minister Kato, is a total of 400 from two local construction companies, four days before the announcement date for the October House of Representatives election. We have received donations of 10,000 yen.

The Public Office Election Law prohibits contractors in the country's public works from making donations in relation to the national elections, but NHK proceeded to report that the two construction companies were roads ordered by the Tohoku Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism at the time. I was undertaking public works in the country, such as improvement work.

In response to NHK's interview, the Liberal Democratic Party branch said, “Every donation is regarded as support for the activities of the political party branch. I didn't know at all that the company you pointed out received an order for public construction in the country.” After that, he said, “I want to make sure that we will check thoroughly in the future.”

Expert "Suspected conflict with donation law after dissolution"

Professor Nobunobu Iwai of Nihon University, who is familiar with the issue of political funding, said, “The House of Representatives has a date of announcement and a vote for elections at the same time as the dissolution of the House of Representatives. The contractor should be regarded as a period during which it is not possible to donate to politicians.During this period, donations to political parties that have a two-sided relationship with politicians are suspected of conflicting with the Public Office Election Law, It should be refunded, and politicians and donating companies need to understand and respond to the purpose of the law. "