Kishida says he regrets funds scandal and will work on partial changes to his cabinet

“It is my responsibility to lead the LDP reform in order to regain the public trust,” Kishida said.

Regain trust? Oh, please! The LDP has been in a continuous cycle of scandals for the past 35 years! Corruption is apparently part of the foundation of the party.

distrust over his governing party’s widening slush funds scandal that has shaken his grip on power

If trust and sincerity were the metric for being in power Reiwa and Yamamoto Taro would be PM.

Violations could result in penalty of up to five years in prison, but prosecution is difficult as it requires proof of a specific instruction to an accountant to not report the money transfer.

There's always a loophole. The prosecutors will enjoy their moment in the spotlight, "performing" their job against high-level corruption, but it will come to nothing. And the LDP will go on their merry, corrupt ways, like after Recruit, Sagawa Kyubin, Abe garden party .... and numerous other scandals over the years that also came to nothing.

these guys are in so much hot water it feels like actually doing their job would be an easier option say this stage.

Kishida isn't going to reform the LDP, the LDP isn't going to reform itself and the public won't be able to do anything. The people donating the money could, though. They could just decide their local LDP Diet members are tainted goods and cut off the cash supply.

Sssssorry ‘bout that.

“It is my responsibility to lead the LDP reform in order to regain the public trust,” he said.

Thanks JT. Needed a laugh this morning.

Tokyo Special Prosecutors Office should widen the net and investigate all of the other LDP factions, especially Aso.

The photo is priceless

Yeah looks like Kishi kun has a bad case of flatulence

The audacity of some. I guess when you know you can get away with it, do it? Later on down the road, if there was wrongdoing we can only hope for some payback. DHB don’t hold breath

Mark

Today 08:40 am JST

LDP will reborn and become better after this, hopefully

If they take a serious financial hit from this they might. This is all about money so they should have to pay it all back and then no one should give them any more.

This is a curious situation.

The amount he accepted is reportedly just 1.4 million ($9,600).

and

while Nishimura allegedly kept 1 million yen ($6,870)

These are quite small amounts of money in terms of political funds. No doubt more significant sums have been given to politicians. The Abe faction is losing power. It seems his death has brought about all sorts of unanticipated change.

I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but after watching the news yesterday and seeing these ojiichans bowing, I'm convinced they all belong to some kind of secret villain club just by looking at their evil faces.

masterblaster

Today 09:16 am JST

These are quite small amounts of money in terms of political funds. No doubt more significant sums have been given to politicians.

Well, I think the donors are often owners of small companies in the Diet members' constituencies. I read that while they buy the party tickets somewhere they can't actually afford to travel to Tokyo for the parties.

I don't suppose the politicians mind too much, they do seem to have other ways of raking in cash.

The levels of narcissism, arrogance, and sociopathy are through the roof!

I think the LDP should be relabelled a criminal organisation, or at least the Abe faction.

prosecution is difficult as it requires proof of a specific instruction to an accountant to not report the money transfer.

Of course they wouldn't have been doing it if they thought they could be prosecuted...

What do you expect 70 years running the country writing the laws another fine example is the three year Statute of limitations on bribery.

partial changes

Kishida says he regrets funds scandal

no he doesn't. he regrets getting caught

Oh boy, more cabinet changes, surely it'll fix everything this time. This cycle feels like banging your head against the wall over and over again.

Kishida's actions clearly indicate he does not regret the funds, he regrets people found out about them, that is a huge difference. The only one demonstrating any regret about the diverted funds has been Miyazawa.

SDCA

Today 09:36 am JST

I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but after watching the news yesterday and seeing these ojiichans bowing, I'm convinced they all belong to some kind of secret villain club just by looking at their evil faces.

Well, if that Matsuno creature isn't dropping his minions through hidden trapdoors into alligator pits he's spending his time on escalators trying to get upskirt photos.

Kishida regrets... (his party getting caught scooping filthy lucre out of the country's till while telling folks to tighten their belts and cough up more taxes).

Prosecutors are expected to widen their investigation into the slush funds scandal after Wednesday's closing of the parliament session.*

Which gives us all more time to stock up on popcorn for Kishida's next LDP Kabuki show.

shogun36

Today 11:18 am JST

no he doesn't. he regrets getting caught

I would say that he didn't do anything suspicious himself, but as a very senior LDP politician I'm sure he had at least a fair idea of what was going on.

I do kinda feel bad that Kishida is getting the flack for decades of others grimy policies. But like you are one of them too and no doubt benefit somehow from this too. Saying you’ll do better to regain trust but all you did was replace with internal choices AGAIN say’s exactly what they want

Kishida says he regrets funds scandal.........................Oh no, he is really sorry.......he got found out. Does any one believe he had no idea this was going on? I bet his only real regret is that his share of the slush fund will now dry up, but hey, just hang on, another one will replace it. Corruption knows many paths.

Collecting proceeds from party events and paying kickbacks to lawmakers are not illegal if recorded appropriately under the political funds law. Violations could result in penalty of up to five years in prison, but prosecution is difficult as it requires proof of a specific instruction to an accountant to not report the money transfer.

No AICPA/CIMA certified professional accountant/auditor would ever countenance such a request.

Literally no recourse to any form of oversight, or a recognisable process of legislative independent accountability

A level of corruption in government that raises suspicion, as to what levels of fraud/financial misrepresentation lurk undetected.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, his cabinet are what is visible to the naked eye, who or what is out of sight working the peddles, pulling the strings?

Truly remarkable.

Kishida says he regrets funds scandal and will…

….

Surely, Kishida knew and has known of this practice for decades?

What is he really regretful about is allowing it to continue during his leadership and it becoming a vote loser.

Kishida shows his lack of ability…again!

This is another case of the fish rotting from the head. Cutting of the fins and the tail will not stop the rot.

If trust and sincerity were the metric for being in power Reiwa and Yamamoto Taro would be PM.

Heh, how naïve :)