Construction companies donate 200 million yen to LDP

General contractor construction companies have donated 200 million yen (1,680,000 dollars) to the Liberal Democratic Party for 2003.

Akahata of July 21 reported that political donations from members of the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors Inc. fell short of the amount required by the LDP set at 300 million yen (2,540,000 dollars), the usual amount.

The cuts in political donations to the LDP are the consequence of mounting public criticism of general contractor construction companies and are based on individual corporate decisions.

A contractor commented: "It is not common sense to ask for the usual amount in the year of economic recession. We will have to rethink political donations, taking a warning from the Fukui District Court decision disapproving political donations from non-dividend payers." (end)