The Liberal Democratic Party has informed the opposition party that five members, including former Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno, intend to attend the House of Representatives Committee on Political Ethics regarding the issue surrounding factional political funding parties. They are considering holding the event as early as the middle of next week, and the ruling and opposition parties are expected to make adjustments regarding the specific schedule and whether or not it should be made public.
Regarding the House of Representatives Committee on Political Ethics, which received this issue, the Liberal Democratic Party asked the Constitutional Democratic Party to include
▼Shiotani, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
, who is pro-Abe, and ▼Takeda, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, who is pro-Nikai. Three people
, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno,
who is a member of the Diet and served as secretary general ;
Nishimura, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; and
Takagi, former head of the National Assembly Committee, announced their intention to attend.
On the 22nd, the five people plan to submit their application for review to the review committee.
Nishimura told reporters, ``I want to be honest about everything I know and fulfill my accountability.''
The Liberal Democratic Party is considering holding the meeting as early as the middle of next week, and has even proposed holding it over two days.
In response, on the opposition side, the Constitutional Democratic Party's National Diet Committee Chairman Azumi stated that, in principle, the committee should be closed to the public, saying, ``We have to respect the person's will, but I strongly urge that it should be fully open if possible.'' We are requesting that such events be held publicly.
In light of this situation, it is expected that the ruling and opposition parties will make adjustments regarding the specific schedule and whether or not it should be released.
If a review board is held, it will be the first since 2009.
The opposition party also requested that a review committee be held in the House of Councilors.
Former House of Councilors Secretary-General Seko Seko, one of Abe's ``Five People,'' has announced his intention to attend the meeting if it is held, and it is expected that arrangements will be made for the number of attendees in the future.
It will be the first time that a review committee is held in the House of Councilors.
On the other hand, the ruling party hopes to have the new fiscal year budget passed by the House of Representatives by the 2nd of next month, when it is certain that it will be enacted within the fiscal year.
Towards this end, we are making an unusual proposal to hold a central public hearing on the 29th of next week, following the subcommittee meeting that is customary to be held after the central public hearing, and paralleling the schedule of the Political Ethics Review Committee. The ruling and opposition parties will hold discussions.