Regarding the issue surrounding the faction's political funding party, the Liberal Democratic Party executive department is considering recommending that the executive who discussed the handling of Abe faction kickbacks leave the party, which is the second-heaviest punishment among the party's punishments, and also consider their role in the faction. Our policy is to make decisions based on this.
Regarding this issue, Prime Minister Kishida held a series of meetings on the 29th with members of the party's executive committee, including Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Aso, Secretary-General Motegi, and House of Councilors Chairman Sekiguchi, and exchanged opinions regarding the punishment of the members involved.
During the series of meetings, the four executives who discussed the handling of Abe's kickbacks were said to have expressed opinions such as, ``If we don't respond in a strict and easy-to-understand way, we won't gain the understanding of the people.''
For this reason, the executive branch is considering the second-heaviest of the eight levels of punishment, ``recommendation to leave the party,'' followed by ``suspension of party membership,'' and makes decisions based on factors such as one's role in the faction and the amount of kickbacks. The policy is to do so.
In addition, it is necessary to impose severe punishment on the former general secretary generals other than the four, and plans are being made to hold a party discipline committee meeting on the 4th of next week to make a decision.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura and former House of Councilors Secretary-General Seko revealed on the 29th that they had a four-person meeting with former Prime Minister Abe and former House of Representatives Speaker Hosoda in March of last year.
The two explained that they had discussed matters related to that year's House of Councilors election, and that they had not discussed how to handle kickbacks.
Regarding the response of the two, Representative Izumi of the Constitutional Democratic Party criticized them, saying, ``They should have had plenty of opportunities to explain themselves before now. They were just lying and only saying things that were convenient for them.''
The opposition party plans to continue to intensify its pursuit, including calling for the subpoena of Abe faction leaders and other witnesses.
Liberal Democratic Party former Policy Research Chairman Hagiuda office re-corrects political funds balance report
The office of former LDP Political Affairs Research Chairman Hagiuda announced on the night of the 29th that he had once again revised his political funds balance report.
As a result of examining the expenses listed as "unknown," the amount of unknown use was approximately 40,000 yen, which was determined to be the remainder of the foreign currency exchanged during a business trip abroad.
In addition, of the 27.28 million yen in revenue collected in excess of the party ticket sales quota, 18.97 million yen that was not spent was returned to the Abe faction to which he belonged.