11:48 JST, May 11, 2024
TOKYO – Japan’s ruling bloc faced criticism from opposition forces on Friday over its proposals to revise the Political Funds Control Law in the wake of a high-profile slush fund scandal.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party explained the proposals during the opening meeting of the special committee on political reforms in the House of Councilors, the upper house of parliament.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties claimed that the proposals, which include introducing a “guilt-by-association” system to clarify lawmakers’ responsibility over violations of the Political Funds Control Law, are incomplete and inadequate were, and called for more drastic changes such as a ban on political donations from companies and groups.
The LDP hopes to revise the law during the current parliamentary session ending in June, aiming to regain public trust after the slush fund scandal involving the party.
LDP lawmaker Yoshihiko Isozaki said at the upper house meeting that the ruling bloc’s proposals will expand the disclosure of the names of ticket buyers for fundraising parties and clarify how lawmakers have used funds for policy activities.
He rejected the proposed ban on corporate political donations and said sources of political funds should remain diversified.
CDP lawmaker Takumi Onuma said the debt-by-association system proposed by the ruling camp is “inadequate and ineffective.”
The ruling bloc’s proposals are “far from the reform we seek,” said Kaori Takagi of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party). “Current funds for policy activities should be eliminated and a new system created to make use as public as possible.”
Yoshifumi Hamano of the People’s Democratic Party said the ruling bloc’s proposals were “inadequate.” Satoshi Inoue of the Japanese Communist Party demanded that the LDP clear up the entire picture of the scandal.
