Editorial: Tokyo metro assembly's LDP group irresponsible to sidestep slush fund scandal
The start of campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election is impending, yet there has been no progress in unraveling a slush fund scandal involving the assembly's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction.
With regard to political fundraising parties held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly LDP faction in 2019 and 2022, officials failed to record income exceeding the fundraising quotas set for members in financial reports, effectively creating a slush fund. This bears a resemblance to the slush fund scandal involving the LDP's former Abe faction.
A total of around 35 million yen (about $245,000) went undeclared, leading to the summary indictment and conviction of a faction accountant. However, cases were not formed against 26 current and former members of the assembly who failed to declare the additional income.
In February this year, a committee was set up within the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly to consider a political ethics ordinance in response to the scandal. Clarification of the truth would normally be a premise for establishing an ordinance, but the LDP's reluctant attitude has stood out.
All 16 of the current metropolitan assembly members who failed to properly disclose the income responded in writing that they were not aware of any illegality. Two assembly members who were secretaries-general at the time were called as witnesses but only stated that creating slush funds was "a long-standing practice." They added that they "cannot confirm who gave the instructions or when" and that they had "never discussed whether or not to list" the additional income in financial reports.
Such evasive explanations are unacceptable.
In fact, contradictory testimony has newly emerged from a former faction staff member.
In documents and responses to closed-door hearings, the former staffer explained that "the basic policy was set by the faction's executive board (assembly members) at the time." It was also revealed that the secretary-general at the time had said at the faction's general meeting, "Feel free to do as you please" regarding income exceeding the quota for party ticket sales.
Regarding the accountant who was summarily indicted, the former worker expressed an understanding that, "He simply carried out tasks as instructed and was not in a position to direct or decide on the skimming."
There is a discrepancy between the claims of the assembly members and the former staff member. The LDP must fulfill its responsibility to provide an explanation.
Various opinion polls have shown that while public attention is focused on measures to address rising prices, interest in money in politics remains high. While there is little time left before the start of campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on June 13 and voting on June 22, a thorough investigation is necessary.
It will not work for officials to turn their backs on clarification of the facts and wait for the issue to fade away. To contribute to the revival of political parties and politics as a whole, the LDP must demonstrate its self-cleansing abilities.
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