Due to the issue surrounding the faction's political funding party, the Liberal Democratic Party's executive committee recommended former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shioya and former House of Councilors Secretary-General Seko to leave the party, among the four pro-Abe executives who discussed the handling of kickbacks, and former political affairs investigator Shimomura. We have decided to suspend the membership of the party for one year for the chairman and former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura.
Due to this issue, the Liberal Democratic Party's executive committee has decided to punish 39 members of the Abe and Nikai factions at a party discipline committee meeting on the 4th.
Prime Minister Kishida held discussions with members of the party's executive committee in the Diet on the afternoon of the 2nd, and in the evening he met again with Secretary-General Motegi and Chairman of the Board of Governors Moriyama at the Prime Minister's official residence to further consider the matter.
As a result, of the four Abe faction executives who discussed the handling of kickbacks, former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shioya, who served as the faction's chairman, and former House of Councilors Secretary-General Seko, who was the top leader on the House of Councilors side, were recommended to leave the party, and Shimomura and others were recommended to leave the party. The former Chairman of the Political Affairs Research Council and former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura have been held responsible for continuing to give kickbacks, and the party has decided to suspend their party membership for one year.
In addition, there is Takagi, former head of the Diet Countermeasures Committee, who is a former secretary general, and former chief cabinet secretary Matsuno, former political affairs research chairman Hagiuda, who had more than 20 million yen in undocumented money for five years, and Takeda, who served as secretary general in the Nikai faction. For former Ministers of Internal Affairs and Communications, we are considering how to handle the period, with a focus on suspending party membership and suspension of party positions.
Regarding this punishment, since the targets are members with unreported amounts of 5 million yen or more, there are many within the party, mainly Abe supporters, who say, ``The reason for drawing the line at 5 million yen is too unclear.'' ” There is widespread dissatisfaction.
There are also concerns that if the matter is not resolved quickly, the damage to the party will continue.
The executive branch will continue to make final adjustments for three days in preparation for a decision on punishment at the Party Disciplinary Committee.