The House of Representatives Committee on Political Ethics, which deals with the issue surrounding political funding parties organized by factions of the Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to be held next week on the 28th and 29th with former Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno and five other members in attendance.
While five people want the meeting to be held behind closed doors, the opposition party wants it to be open to the public, and discussions between the ruling and opposition parties are continuing.
Regarding the House of Representatives Political Ethics Committee, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shioya, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura, and former National Assembly Committee Chairman Takagi, all of whom served as secretary-general of the Abe faction, and Takagi, who served as secretary-general of the Nikai faction. A total of five people, including former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Takeda, requested an examination, saying they wanted to make excuses and fulfill their accountability.
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan are coordinating the schedule of the review committee over two days, the 28th and 29th of next week, and it is expected that a formal decision will be made at the executive committee meeting at the beginning of next week.
Prime Minister Kishida said, ``I believe that the members who announced their attendance made the decision based on their own will.I would like to encourage the relevant members to continue to provide explanations at every opportunity.''
In response, Izumi, representative of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, pointed out, ``They should clearly answer why they continued to use slush funds as a system and what kind of communication took place with the accounting officer.''
However, regarding the format of the review committee, while five members wanted it to be held behind closed doors as in principle, the opposition party argued that ``accountability should be fulfilled in the public's view.'' They are requesting that the information be made public, and discussions are expected to take place at the executive committee meeting next week.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Budget Committee, which is deliberating the new fiscal year budget bill, has decided to hold a central public hearing on the 29th of next week, which is a prerequisite for a vote.
The ruling party wants to pass the budget bill in the House of Representatives next week to ensure it is passed by the end of the fiscal year, while the opposition party plans to decide whether to vote on the bill based on the contents of the Political Ethics Committee.