Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is embroiled in a political fundraising scandal, which is taking center stage at the 150-day ordinary session of the Diet that began on Friday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to be grilled over the issue. The scandal revolves around the LDP's internal 'factions', and in response, the party has approved an interim plan for political reform, which aims to separate these factions from financial and personnel matters. This move is part of drastic reforms called for by the LDP reform headquarters to make political funds transparent and restore public trust. Notably, Obuchi and other key lawmakers have left Motegi's faction, while the LDP’s Ikeda and his aide were indicted for not reporting excess income. Despite these measures, former Prime Minister Taro Aso has stated he will maintain his faction as a 'policy group'.
Aso says he'll maintain LDP faction as 'policy group': Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged Saturday to maintain his faction within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as a "policy group," with the latest political funds… https://t.co/Otf8LnE816 #japannews #japantoday
Editorial: Japan’s newly opened Diet session has a heavy agenda including aid for earthquake victims and measures on the birth rate and economic security. But the LDP’s political funds scandal threatens to gum up the works. https://t.co/T1EI1fxo5y
Editorial: Japan’s newly opened Diet session has a heavy agenda including aid for earthquake victims and measures on the birth rate and economic security. But the LDP’s political funds scandal threatens to gum up the works. https://t.co/T1EI1fxo5y
How have factions shaped Japan’s ruling party—and will their breakdown endanger its grip on power? We explain https://t.co/c6DRZoy6aE 👇
We explain the factions at the heart of a scandal in Japan’s ruling party—and why promises to disband them may turn out to be hollow https://t.co/DGCrVNmGUv 👇
Japan’s LDP has approved an interim report on political reform, in the wake of a fundraising scandal involving so-called ‘factions’ within the party. We look at the actions of key party lawmakers on this issue. https://t.co/YCTJNBh3za
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has decided on an interim plan on political reform that aims to separate its internal factions from matters of money and personnel affairs. https://t.co/GRN3SjqeYB https://t.co/nMIw9vtHWp
EDITORIAL: LDP’s reform plan lacking the transparency to restore trust | The Asahi Shimbun Asia & #Japan Watch https://t.co/Dt8uC5Clsa
Obuchi, other key lawmakers leave LDP faction led by Motegi | The Asahi Shimbun Asia & #Japan Watch https://t.co/KLOcznVAxC
LDP’s Ikeda, aide indicted over failing to report excess income | The Asahi Shimbun Asia & #Japan Watch https://t.co/hlqUYTOc5N
EDITORIAL: LDP reform headquarters / Making political funds transparent so that party management will not be swayed by the influence of favors and money should be the ultimate goal of drastic reforms is the LDP is to restore public trust. https://t.co/DhWz3qk1JN https://t.co/Q04rysqYo5
Diet starts 150-day regular session, with funds scandal in focus: Japan's Diet convened a 150-day ordinary session on Friday, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set to be grilled over a political fundraising scandal that has… https://t.co/dtGmHTJgzd #japannews #japantoday
When Japan’s legislature reconvenes on Friday, a crisis inside the ruling party will top the agenda https://t.co/Y0Om6H1mMe 👇