Distribution of Gift Certificates to Lawmakers

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba revealed that he had distributed gift certificates to the lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party. It is doubted that his activity may violate the law which prohibits giving money as a political activity. Although Ishiba denied that it had not been any sort of political activity, it is likely that voters recognize Ishiba’s action as inappropriate for the leader of leading party which has been criticized of its management of political funds.

According to the news reports, Ishiba had a meeting in the evening of March 3rd with fresh members of the House of Representatives who had been elected for the first time last October. In the afternoon of the day, Ishiba’s staffs visited each office of the participants of the evening meeting and handed out the gift certificates of major department stores with value of 100 thousand yen. The staffs then explained that the certificates were souvenir for the evening meeting.

 

Article 21-2 of Political Funds Control Act says that “[n]o person shall not financially contribute to political activities of a candidate.” On March 13th, Ishiba admitted to the reporters that he distributed the gift certificates and explained that it had not been a political activity. He denied illegality of his distribution of the gift certificates, insisting that it had been his out-of-pocket spendings to thank for the families of the lawmakers.

 

The Public Offices Election Act prohibits a politician to make any donation to someone in its electoral district. Because there was no lawmaker elected from his electoral district, Ishiba said that it would not violate the Public Offices Election Act. Having said that, Ishiba apologized to the people related to his activity, because his decision might have caused serious concern.

 

Some recipients returned the gift certificates to Ishiba. They regretted accepting the gift when the people in Japan turn skeptical eyes to the LDP on its inappropriate management of political funds, as revealed in the slush fund scandal of Abe and Nikai faction last year. Ishiba told that it was not the first case which he gave lawmakers gift certificates.

 

In the time when the people are frustrated with price inflation faster than wage hike or with reluctance of the government to ease threshold of imposing income tax, distribution of certain amount of gift certification between lawmakers can be interpreted as an attempt of mutual helping using public money collected from taxpayers.

 

It is possible that Ishiba’s political basis is further eroded by losing public confidence with his own political activity. The opposition parties are going to ask about what was going on between Ishiba and the fresh lawmakers and consider requesting resignation of Ishiba. Co-leader of Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin-no Kai), Seiji Maehara, argued that the distribution of gift certificates could be a bribery. Ishiba will likely be put on a defensive position in the Diet discussion over political reform.

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