Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that his ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not endorse some party lawmakers implicated in a slush funds scandal as its official candidates in the upcoming general election, amid fallout from the scandal that has eroded voter trust.
The party also decided not to permit lawmakers disciplined for being involved in the fundraising scandal on the LDP's proportional representation list for the Oct 27 election, even if they receive party endorsements for single-seat constituencies, said Ishiba, who also serves as party president.
In Japan's House of Representatives election, each voter casts two ballots, one to choose a candidate in a single-seat constituency and the other to select a party for proportional representation.
Ishiba said those who were severely punished in April will not be endorsed as official candidates under newly outlined criteria.
Two LDP heavyweights, Hakubun Shimomura and Yasutoshi Nishimura, are expected to become ineligible as they have been suspended from party membership for one year, as well as Tsuyoshi Takagi, who has been suspended for six months.
Even if not subject to heavy penalties, those who failed to attend a parliamentary political ethics session will not be endorsed, Ishiba said. Former LDP policy chief Koichi Hagiuda and lawmakers Hiromi Mitsubayashi and Katsuei Hirasawa fall under this criteria.
Among scandal-hit lawmakers, those who have failed to sufficiently address their local supporters' concerns and have gained little backing will be denied party endorsement.
"It is necessary to properly respond to the public's distrust and anger. I call on (LDP lawmakers) to make efforts to gather votes by squarely facing voters and give full explanations," Ishiba told reporters after a meeting with party executives to discuss endorsement criteria.
Ishiba, who was elected Japan's new prime minister by parliament on Tuesday to replace Fumio Kishida, said he and four LDP executives will not be placed on the LDP's proportional representation list, emphasizing their commitment to "fulfilling responsibilities together."
As the scandal deepened and criticism mounted, the LDP in April took action against 39 members whose unreported revenue totaled 5 million yen ($34,000) or more. Of these, 34 received lighter punishments, short of expulsion, suspension from party membership or exclusion from the party's endorsement list.
© KYODO
9 Comments
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dagon
I wonder if the majority, those 34 receiving lighter punishments just had to attend an ethica session.
Try not reporting or nicking that amount and see what penalties you shall receive.
Yubaru
This would have been unheard of under Abe, and it's great that Ishiba is taking this seriously and taking a hardline stance!
WoodyLee
"" Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that his ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not endorse some party lawmakers implicated in a slush funds scandal ""
SOME !?
Why NOT ALL ?
BertieWooster
It's just a trick to fool voters. And calling it a scandal is an attempt to disguise the fact that what these LDP politicians did were actual crimes. If the LDP had had any ethics, this wouldn't have happened in the first place.
3RENSHO
Yes, I echo exactly what BertieWooster has said...!
MarkX
Many people criticize the opposition parties as weak and inefficient, but what many don’t know is that it was the criminal activities by the LDP that has allowed them to retain power for so long! What do you think these slush funds were for? Of course they were paying for votes!
shogun36
If they did that to all involved, then NO ONE would be endorsed.
They gotta at least put some names on the bill.
Mike_Oxlong
Systemic corruption exposed. Feeble attempt to compensate.
itsonlyrocknroll
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lost/ignored an opportunity,
To stamp his authority, his promise pledge for a new era of leadership, of change. Day one.
Announcing a full judge led statutory independent inquiry, into such serious accusations, subsequent evidence of the toxic use of political slush funds.
Is Shigeru Ishiba just another LDP leader in name only, a man of straw?
LDP will have an unassailable advantage over all opposition parties.
I suspect these LDP "slush funds", the lack of transparency, have guaranteed repetition, securing ruling LDP government without recourse to public scrutiny.