Until the 28th, 2 people from Abepa 2 won are searched… Government official: “If you’re not shocked, you’re lying”
As Japan’s Tokyo District Prosecutors’ Office conducted a series of search and seizure operations on two members of the National Assembly belonging to the Seiwa Policy Research Association, the largest faction of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, there are concerns about additional blows to the cabinet of Fumio Kishida.
According to Jiji News Agency and Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 28th, Prime Minister Kishida told reporters at the Prime Minister’s residence that day that the offices of two lawmakers from the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party were searched and seized, saying, “We must work toward political recovery with a strong sense of crisis.” “I feel it,” he said.
Regarding the search and seizure itself, he said, “As prime minister, I will refrain from commenting on the specific activities of the investigative agency.”
Earlier this morning, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors’ Office special department conducted a search and seizure of the office and lodgings of Yasutada Ono, a member of the House of Councilors (Senate) belonging to the Abe faction, who is under investigation for political funding issues.
Representative Ono is suspected of receiving 50 million yen in slush funds over the five years until last year.
Rep. Ono is the second Abe faction member suspected of slush funds to be searched and searched by the Tokyo District Prosecutors’ Office, which is investigating the issue of political funds from the Liberal Democratic Party faction.
The previous day, on the 27th, the office of Representative Yoshitaka Ikeda (池田佳隆) of the House of Representatives (House of Representatives) was searched and seized in the House of Representatives 2nd Heirloom Hall. He is suspected of receiving 40 million yen in slush funds.
NHK reported that as members of the Abe faction were searched and seized, concerns are growing within the party that the operation of the government will be further affected.
There are voices within the party such as, “I am worried that distrust in the Liberal Democratic Party is growing stronger,” and, “If another member is subject to mandatory investigation, it could directly affect the cabinet and the party’s approval ratings.”
The Liberal Democratic Party’s executive branch plans to rush to establish a new system early next year, including reviewing measures to prevent recurrence of the political funding problem, which is scheduled to be launched early next year.
A government official told NHK, “It would be a lie to say that we are not shocked as lawmakers’ offices are being searched and seized day after day.” “We cannot estimate to what extent the investigation will progress, and we are concerned that the year-end and New Year holidays will become a topic of discussion about the (political funding issue),” he said.
The Kishida cabinet’s recent approval rating has plummeted to the 10-20% range. Due to the issue of the Liberal Democratic Party’s political funds, even cabinet members belonging to the Abe faction were replaced, but the controversy has not subsided as the investigation has expanded.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.