Japan’s LDP imposes tougher party rules after fund scandals amid poor public trust
- With the revision, the LDP can urge a lawmaker to leave the party following prosecution for violating the political funds control law
- Several individuals belonging to three LDP factions have not faced criminal charges due to a lack of evidence implicating them
The LDP has come under intense scrutiny amid allegations that some of its factions, including the largest one formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, neglected to report portions of their income from fundraising parties and created slush funds for years.
In amending its regulations, the LDP also pledged to move away from factions as vehicles for securing funds and allocating major government and party posts to lawmakers, while allowing such intraparty entities to continue as “policy groups.”
Kishida said his government and the ruling camp will aim to revise the political funds control law, which is often criticised for loopholes enabling politicians to maintain slush funds, during the ongoing parliamentary session through June.
Earlier this year, the LDP said more than 80 of its around 370 lawmakers had under-reported income in political funds documents, but the party has not investigated and provided details regarding how the money was used.
