Regarding the fact that an executive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was having a dinner with the presidents of NTT, the director of the International Strategy Bureau, Makiguchi, admitted the dinner at the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors and apologized that "it caused public suspicion."
Prime Minister Suga expressed his intention to thoroughly purge the rules and strive to restore trust.
At the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors, the director of the International Strategy Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications revealed in June last year that he had a dinner with the president of NTT and others with Makiko Yamada, a former Cabinet Public Relations Secretary who was a general affairs deputy at that time. It was a situation that caused public suspicion. "
On top of that, "I remember paying the 10,000 yen presented by the other party in line with the purpose of the National Civil Service Ethics Law. I may have had a dinner with the NTT side, but there is no risk of violating the law. I'm aware of it. "
In addition, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Taniwaki, who has already approved the dinner, explained that he paid 5,000 yen as a membership fee at the dinner last July, saying, "At that time, I did not recognize the total amount and paid a reasonable burden." I did.
"I never made my wishes at the dinner, and I didn't refuse to provide any undisclosed information," he said.
On the other hand, a person in charge of the National Personnel Authority said, "In general, if the amount paid by the staff is insufficient compared to the actual cost and the stakeholder bears the difference, the national civil servant ethics will receive the entertainment of the difference. It's a violation of the rules. "
Prime Minister Suga said, "I will take the lead in purging the rules and developing the administration based on the rules. I would like to take action again so that the people can trust me."