Regarding the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Kishida discussed how to handle kickbacks with former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shioya and former Chairman Shimomura, who are senior members of the Abe faction, before disciplinary action was taken against the relevant members. We also requested an explanation of the contents of the discussions held the year before.

Regarding this issue, Prime Minister Kishida, along with Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Motegi and Chairman of the Board of Governors Moriyama, will interview four senior members of Abe's faction, and on the 26th, he will meet with former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shioya and former political affairs investigator Shimomura at a hotel in Tokyo. This was done individually to the chairman.



Although the Abe faction decided in April of last year to stop kickbacks at the direction of former Prime Minister Abe, who was the group's chairman at the time, the kickbacks continued even after the four members discussed how to handle them in August.



Regarding this discussion, Mr. Shioya previously told the Political Ethics Review Committee, ``Many members of the Diet expressed the opinion that they were in trouble, and there was a discussion that ``Maybe there is no choice but to continue it only for this year.'' ” says.



Taking this into consideration, during the hearing, we requested an explanation of the content of the discussions and how the kickbacks continued.



On the 27th, we plan to interview former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura and former House of Councilors Secretary-General Seko, who also attended the consultation.



The executive branch is coordinating next week to decide on punishments for the members involved.



These four people are considered to be responsible for not stopping the kickbacks, and we are considering punishment beyond the fourth-heaviest penalty in the party's constitution, which is ``non-recognition of elections,'' and we plan to make a decision based on the contents of the hearing. .

Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Tokai Tokai ``Mr. Nikai's judgment should be taken into consideration''

Liberal Democratic Party Political Affairs Research Chairman Watami Watanabe told reporters, ``I think the punishment will change depending on the content of the interview, so it's difficult for me to say what the punishment will be, and I shouldn't say so.'' Ta.



Regarding former Secretary-General Nikai's announcement that he will not run in the next House of Representatives election, he said, ``It should be taken as a very serious decision.Of course, it should be taken into consideration when deciding on punishment.'' .

Representative Izumi Ritmin: “This is nothing but an attitude of getting away with punishment.”

At a party meeting, Constitutional Democratic Party representative Izumi said, ``It is strange that the Liberal Democratic Party is talking about disciplinary action when the truth has not yet been discovered.In a sense, disciplinary action is being taken without anything being clarified. This is nothing but an attitude of trying to get away with it, and we will not tolerate anything careless.Even in the Kishida faction, the accounting officer has been summarily indicted, and Prime Minister Kishida, like former secretary general Nikai, will not run in the next election. Why don't you retire?'' he said.

Ritmin Secretary-General Okada: ``If you don't know, then it becomes the president's responsibility.''

Constitutional Democratic Party Secretary-General Okada said at a press conference, ``Although the Liberal Democratic Party was doing illegal things within its factions, it ended up turning a blind eye.'' We need to take responsibility and clarify the facts. "We should bring them all together in the same place and have them debate and reach a conclusion. If Prime Minister Kishida is listening and says, 'I don't understand,' that would be pathetic, and it would be the Prime Minister's responsibility." said.