Japan’s prime minister is promising government changes to deal with a party corruption scandal

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday he plans to take “appropriate measures” in response to a growing scandal involving his ruling party’s secret funds. Kishida told reporters that he was aware of the growing public distrust of corruption in campaign fundraising and that he was taking the matter seriously, acknowledging that the criminal case was under open investigation.

“I will take appropriate measures at the appropriate time to restore public trust and avoid delays in national politics,” Kishida promised, without giving further details. Local media reported that he could reshuffle the cabinet, focusing on the party’s most important positions, as early as Thursday.

The scandal mainly concerns the largest and most powerful faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), formerly led by slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Its top members, including those in the highest cabinet and party positions, are suspected of systematically under-reporting funds amounting to several hundred million yen (several million dollars), in possible violation of election and electoral law, Japanese media reported. . The money was earmarked for uncontrolled secret funds.

Kishida is reportedly planning to replace four ministers – Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Agriculture Minister Ithiro Miyashita and Interior Minister Junji Suzuki – and 11 other ministerial positions in his cabinet, as well as those holding important positions in the party.

According to media reports, Matsuno allegedly transferred more than 10 million yen ($68,700) over the past five years from money he raised at the faction’s fundraising events to the fever fund, while Nishimura kept 1 million yen ($6,870 dollars).

Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) had planned to table a no-confidence motion against Matsuno on Monday, but it is expected to be rejected.

The scandal and a major purge of Abe’s faction are key to Kishida’s future as they could spark a power struggle within the party and affect the next leadership vote in September. Amid the aftermath, Kishida’s cabinet’s approval rating fell below 30%. Still, the LDP, which has ruled postwar Japan almost continuously, is seen as intact while the opposition remains fractured, analysts say. Source: Associated Press

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party corruption

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Fumio Kishida