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Pro-airport Dietmembers received 36 million yen from bid-winning construction firms

Twenty-six parliamentarians of the ruling parties have allegedly received 35.96 million yen over three years from construction companies that won bids for the construction of a second runway at the Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

This was revealed by the Japanese Communist Party's Hatano Kimie at the House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting on January 28. She said that 21 Dietmembers of the Liberal Democratic Party, two of the Komei Party, and three of the New Conservative Party had accepted political donations from the companies that are on government contracts. These lawmakers are all known for promoting the airport's second runway construction.

Hatano showed that the present runway has enough capacity for the yearly number of departure and arrival slots and that the construction of a new runway is unnecessary. Despite that, the construction is being pushed ahead because, Hatano said, particular politicians received money from construction contractors.

Looking at the donation list, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro said, "Construction has nothing to do with donations."

Hatano demanded a ban on political contributions by businesses involved in bidding on public works projects. (end)