A. illegal financing scandal forced Resignation of four ministers of the government Japan and pushed their leader, Fumio Kishida, into countless trials of survival. The crisis erupts a year before primaries on the conservative side, which function as general elections in Japan due to the secular incompetence of the progressive opposition. Road to re-election Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) looks dry for Kishida these days, no matter how much water is withdrawn.
Early in the morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu, the Administration’s number two, Kishida’s right-hand man and until this morning his potential successor, resigned. He was supported by Minister of Economy and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Internal Affairs Junji Suzuku and Minister of Agriculture Ichiro Miyashita. And also five more deputy ministers. “I resigned in light of various allegations that undermine public trust regarding political funds and other allegations regarding my own funds,” Hirozaku said. said.
Behind it are the alleged violations. Political Funds Control Law. Prosecutor’s office is investigating more than possible distribution 500 million yen (Approximately 3.2 million euros) has been raised by the party from dozens of partners over the last five years. It is common for political groups to organize in Japan. fundraising activities. This is legal. It is also common for organizers to exceed set goals. ticket sales and pocket the excess. Even this is legal. When does illegality come? not declared this comes. “If you’re confident in selling tickets and you sell more than you’re obligated to do, the rest is your own income… it’s easy,” said a member of the PLD with his face covered and his voice broken. Other statements indicate that the practice was widespread.
black collections
Black accusations channeled SeiwakenIt is the main group of the PLD and of which the four resigned ministers are members. For the first time, the government was left without representatives of the powerful family led by assassinated Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Kishida could not rely on him to restructure the Administration, but he would lose his support in education. For the prime minister, who has no descendants of his predecessors, diplomacy among the barons is a matter of survival. He took office in 2021 with 50 percent public approval, without even a few months of trust. Now, by the time his team does its third chair dance, that rate drops to 23%, the lowest of his tenure. The Moon sect and other scandals caused the above.
“We will address different issues related to political funds and I will strive to restore public confidence,” he said this week. said. According to reports in the national media, police will begin examining the offices of those under investigation next week and will expand their investigation to include four other PLD groups. One of them was run by Kishida until he resigned last week to emphasize his neutrality.
The next parliamentary elections will be in 2025. A healthy democracy would punish such excesses, but that is not the case in Japan. PLD has been hegemonic ever since II. World War. Progressives have only one victory at the turn of the millennium, and their mandate is remembered for the tsunami and improved management of the crisis. The PLD would win by offering seats to the progressive opposition, whose no-confidence motion failed this week. Kishida’s challenge is the internal elections next September. If he reaches them, which is not a free conditionality, he will do so weakened by this scandal, pasts, and possible futures.