Questionable Transfer of Political Fund

Another questionable treatment of political fund by the leaders of leading Liberal Democratic Party was revealed in discussion of the Diet and a newspaper report. Former head of Constitutional Democratic Party, Renho, argued that the transfer of fund from one political organization to another by the leaders of Motegi faction must be another form of secret fund. And Asahi Shimbun followed that argument as the top news of the paper next morning. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could not explain what the fund exactly was.

In the discussion of Committee on Budget in House of Councillors on Monday, Renho questioned Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization, Yoshitaka Shindo, on his management of political fund. Renho argued that Shindo’s political organization had been donating certain amount of fund to Shindo’s supporters’ organization, making control of the fund obscure. According to Renho, total amount of the donation was ¥260 million for ten years. Shindo insisted that he dealt with those funds abiding by the law.

 

Renho also indicated that Secretary General of LDP, Toshimitsu Motegi, had been doing the same treatment of political funds as Shindo did. Motegi is the president of Motegi faction and Shindo is secretary general of the faction. Renho questioned that was another version of secret fund. “As long as they make political activities lawfully, it is important for them to explain,” said Kishida in the committee.

 

Asahi Shimbun reported on Tuesday that Motegi transferred ¥320 million from his political organization to his supporters’ organization for ten years. The name of Motegi’s political organization is Motegi Toshimitsu Policy Study Association, which was registered to Ministry of Internal Affairs as his “related political organization” in Political Funds Control Act. Supporters’ organization is Motegi Toshimitsu General Federation of Supporters’ Association, which was categorized as “other political organization” in the law. The office of Motegi told Asahi that it had properly been dealing with the political fund fulfilling legal requirements.

 

“Related political organization” has to report every expenditure beyond ¥10 thousand for recurrent spending or cost in political activities, while “other political organization” is not required to report about any recurrent spending, and only demanded to report about cost for every political activity beyond ¥50 thousand. The control of political fund in “related political organization” is checked stricter than “other political organization.”

 

Asahi found that only 1.3% of the spendings of Motegi’s supporters’ association had been open to the public, while 96.4% of the spendings of his policy study association was open. Renho doubted that Motegi and Shindo was concealing how the fund had been spent, calling the system “legal loophole.” Kishida showed his willingness to consider amendment of related law in the discussion in current session of the Diet.

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