Kishida on Ruling Party Slush Fund Allegations: "No Plans for Dissolving Parliament or Party Leadership Election"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently distanced himself from calls for an early dissolution of the Diet and a general election or the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election amid the expanding political funding scandal involving the largest faction within the ruling LDP, the Seiwa Policy Research Council (Abe faction), NHK reported on the 13th (local time).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At a press conference held at the Tokyo residence that day, Prime Minister Kishida responded to questions from reporters regarding the issue by saying, "The question is whether to dissolve the Diet once the (next year's) budget is approved or how to handle next year's (LDP) presidential election, but right now, I do not have the luxury to think about such things."

Earlier, the LDP faced turmoil over a political funding scandal involving the Seiwa Policy Research Council, the party's largest faction. The faction is suspected of hosting fundraising parties and returning money exceeding the allocated quota to lawmakers who sold more party tickets than allowed, without reporting the excess funds in political funding reports. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office’s Special Investigation Division is also planning an investigation related to this matter.

Criticism has arisen that this method of political fundraising is not only practiced by the Seiwa Policy Research Council but also similarly by other factions within the party, such as the K?chikai (Kishida faction), causing a stir in Japanese politics. Although the no-confidence motion against the Kishida Cabinet submitted by the Constitutional Democratic Party was rejected due to opposition from the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito, opposition parties including the Constitutional Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, the Communist Party, the Democratic Party for the People, Reiwa Shinsengumi, and the Social Democratic Party have formed a cooperative framework.

Regarding this, Prime Minister Kishida stated, "We must first confirm the actual facts of the (political funding scandal)," but emphasized, "The LDP must also firmly accept and work on the serious voices of the people demanding political reform. We will respond with a strong sense of crisis."

Additionally, Prime Minister Kishida plans to carry out a cabinet reshuffle on the 14th. It is expected that some ministers from the Abe faction, who are currently embroiled in controversy, will be replaced. He said, "Basically, I am thinking from the perspective that there should be no delays in government affairs."