Suzuki Muneo gave 58 LDP and Komei Party Dietmembers 238 million yen

Liberal Democratic Party Dietmember Suzuki Muneo has given a total of about 238 million yen (1.85 million dollars) during 1998-2000 to 58 Dietmembers of the LDP and the Komei Party, including some unsuccessful candidates, according to Akahata of March 10.

The paper says this will add impetus to pubic criticism of Suzuki, who is under fire for his interference with foreign ministry affairs, especially its "supporting northern islands."

Though he was not an LDP faction leader, Suzuki has collected as much political funds as those for an LDP faction. In 2000, he collected a total of 444 million yen (3.4 million dollars) in donations, an amount second only to Kato Koichi, the Kato group's leader and former LDP secretary general.

His money was delivered not only to Dietmembers of the Hashimoto faction, to which he belongs, but also to members of almost all LDP factions.

The money also went to the agriculture minister of the Koizumi cabinet, vice ministers, and parliamentary secretaries, eleven in all.

In 2000, he also donated a total of one million yen to Komei Party Dietmember Endo Kazuyoshi. (end)