Kishida vows to reshape LDP by moving away from faction system

The panel proposed introducing a system enabling the party to request a faction to disband or suspend activities if it is found violating the political funds control law.

Sure it will be a roaring success like New Capitalism virtuous cycles and other corruption investigations.

A Beautiful Japan must be just around the corner!

How about: if you break the law, or If you kept silent while your buddies broke the law, you are banned from politics? That seems reasonable to me.

Many people keep writing that the Japanese people are at fault for always electing the LDP, and that the opposition parties are weak and have no policies, but as we have all learned with such huge financial advantages, and most likely a lot of vote buying, how does anybody else stand a chance against the mighty LDP. Also, many media support them and hardly print, broadcast anything negative unless it is super obvious.

Speaking after a party reform panel released an interim report, Kishida said he wants to see the LDP "totally break away" from being dominated by factions.

This is just lip service to the public to shore up his sinking approval ratings but at the same time a wink and nod to those faction bosses that nothing will change, ever!

Another vow? Heard it all before from Mr Do Nothing.

Really now this should be interesting. The fact that there are factions is what brought the LDP together in the first place. If he forces them to separate, he is also looking at potentially, breaking up the entire party altogether.

The LDP has ultraconservatives mixed with centrists, and while the "ultra" may out number the other factions it would be a seriously major upheaval in Japanese politics, if all the factions decided to defect an go out on their own.

The weakest point of all of this is, if the money scandal had never happened, then all this faux self-flagellation wouldn't have seen the light of day.

If the LDP Inc Boyz were serious they would have done this ages ago.

No - just a flaccid attempt at "Seeking the understanding of the Japanese people".

Corrupt as ever.

I assume this means the meetings would all be moved to the backroom where they can continue business as usual. An internal investigation cannot be held by the persons responsible for the scandal. So, what does a population do when their ruling gov't is failing them?

MarkXToday  07:33 am JST

Many people keep writing that the Japanese people are at fault for always electing the LDP, and that the opposition parties are weak and have no policies, but as we have all learned with such huge financial advantages, and most likely a lot of vote buying, how does anybody else stand a chance against the mighty LDP.

Indeed, the CDPJ is the main opposition party but they can't afford to fund candidates in every constituency. The deposit alone is ¥3 million, and ¥6 million for PR block candidates. Then there's the ridiculous amount they spend on loudspeaker trucks and those stupid posters they put up everywhere. Online campaigning would be cheaper and more effective so of course it's not allowed.

Kishida vows to reshape LDP by moving away

YAY!

It's about time!

Mr Smug Mug is the most unpopular PM since Mori.

Is he dreaming?

Ha ha ha, another worthless vow from Fumio-kun.

And exactly how is Kishida, with months left in his role before he is inevitably deposed, going to impose his diktat on the eminence grise Aso (who has already made it quite clear that his faction is staying put)?

"factions" ... they'll continue as "policy groups."

Change - J-Gov style.

= No change.

Kissing Kishida Good Bye Is The Only Solution Bt He Doesn't Want To Give Up Power Easily Young Individuals Shoud Run Japan Politics N When Is Shogun Aso Retiring

The factions aren't the problem. The politicians are the problem and zero accountability for breaking the law.

No more suspended sentences. No more 6 months no pay.

Fixed it.

The panel also recommended that the party toughen its penalties on accountants in the event of arrest or indictment for violating the political funds control law

Those nefarious accountants are tarnishing the reputation of politicians.

@browny1T

"If the LDP Inc Boyz were serious they would have done this ages ago."

They did, thirty years ago to be exact, but you can see how successful that was. As soon as the fuss died down, all the different factions reappeared.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida must own this totally

How to reform investigate LDP/J political toxically, how these groups can facilitate corrupt practices within government must go hand in hand with a root and branch independent inquiry to fully ascertain the purpose these slush funds were/are leveraged to aid electioneering, accusations of voting buying/gerrymandering to maintain a succession of ruling governments.

Corruption lives in all politics! Money rules, money makes the rules, money breaks the rules. Money wins!!

masterblasterJan. 24  12:53 pm JST

The factions aren't the problem. The politicians are the problem and zero accountability for breaking the law.

The politicians are part of the problem. Another part of the problem is the people donating the money to them.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed on Tuesday to reshape Japan's Liberal Democratic Party by moving away from its reliance on factions amid a political funds scandal.................Until the next scandal, or everyone forgets about this one. But then, it will not stop the millions who vote for this party of corruption and kickbacks.