House of Representatives Budget Committee Political funding issue: Prime Minister “urges full accountability”

In the Diet, the House of Representatives Budget Committee held intensive deliberations in response to the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan argued that the Liberal Democratic Party's questionnaire survey was inadequate and called for a political ethics committee to be held and relevant members to attend, but Prime Minister Kishida urged relevant members to fulfill their accountability through various means. He emphasized the ideas that the party will promote.

The Liberal Democratic Party's former Minister of State for Children's Policy, Ogura Ogura, commented on the revision of the party's rules to include the ability for the party to dispose of members if the accounting officer is arrested or indicted. It is important for the party to properly revise this policy and demonstrate its stance of never going back."

In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``The party's interim report clearly states the policy of establishing concrete rules in the party regulations for efforts to prevent recurrence.The party's working team has also started, and next month's "I would like to accelerate discussions to revise party rules and other matters at the party convention," he said.

Kazunori Yamai of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan said, ``The Liberal Democratic Party's survey does not reveal the actual situation of the ``slush fund'' at all. Abe faction executives and former secretary general Nikai should attend the political ethics review committee and have them explain it.The opposition parties should make a joint proposal. "The Liberal Democratic Party is the one who has not made a decision. The party president, Prime Minister Kishida, is stopping them."

In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``It is important for the party to fulfill its accountability, and we are appealing to each party concerned. However, we must ask the Diet to decide on the specifics of the debate in the Diet. As a party, we will urge them to fulfill their accountability through appropriate means."

Regarding the necessity of external audits of political groups, including factions, Prime Minister Kishida said, ``Legalizing external audits as a common rule for each political group is meaningful from the perspective of increasing public trust. I would like to clearly formulate my thoughts and hold discussions with all parties in a sincere manner."