Liberal Democratic Party releases hearing results, opposition parties criticize “Relevant members should be appointed to the Political Ethics Committee”

In response to issues surrounding factional political funding parties, the Liberal Democratic Party has released the results of interviews with relevant members of the Abe and Nikai factions.

Opposition parties are increasingly criticizing the investigation, saying it is insufficient, and plan to continue requesting that the relevant members attend the Political Ethics Committee.

In response to this issue, the Liberal Democratic Party released a report on the 15th based on interviews conducted by party executives including Chairman of the Board of Governors Moriyama and other party members, including related members.

The report confirms that 85 people, including current members of the Abe and Nikai factions, received refunds, etc., in which the faction's party ticket income was returned to the members, totaling 579.49 million yen for the five years up to the year 2017. Masu.

Furthermore, 32 people were aware of the existence of refunds, and 11 of them were aware that they were not included in the income and expenditure report.

Furthermore, the Abe faction says that there are indications that the refunds were made more than 20 years ago in some cases, and that there have been numerous calls from former members of the Diet to demand responsibility from the faction's executives.

Prime Minister Kishida said, ``In order to restore public trust, we must continue to have those involved fulfill their accountability.The party will continue to demand this.''

In response to this, opposition party representative Izumi Izumi of the Constitutional Democratic Party said, ``This is a sloppy investigation.If the investigation takes so much time and what comes out is so empty, then Prime Minister Kishida will be held responsible.'' Criticism has increased, saying that the investigation is insufficient.

The opposition party plans to continue requesting that members of the Abe and Nikai factions attend the Committee on Political Ethics at the House of Representatives Committee on Political Ethics meeting to be held on the 16th, and it was confirmed that refunds will be given. There is also a proposal to target all members of parliament.

The ruling party wants to hasten the passage of the new fiscal year budget by the House of Representatives in order to pass it by the end of the fiscal year, but some opposition parties believe that the budget should not be deliberated unless it is confirmed that a review committee will be held. is expected to become more intense.