subsidy

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

LDP gets 15.8 billion yen in subsidies to political parties

As a result of its sweeping victory in the September 11 general election, the Liberal Democratic Party will receive about 15.8 billion yen from tax revenues in government subsidy, up 375 million yen from the previous year. With this, the LDP will get about half of the total yearly subsidies to all political parties except for the Japanese Communist Party which refuses the subsidy on principle.

The Democratic Party of Japan will receive 11.8 billion yen, down 418 million yen because it lost a large number of seats. The subsidy to the Komei Party will decrease by 24 million yen to about 3 billion yen. About 1 billion yen, 3 million yen less, will be distributed to the Social Democratic Party.

The People's New Party and the New Party Nippon became eligible for these subsidies and will receive 60 million yen and 40 million yen, respectively.

These subsidies are distributed to political parties with taxpayers' money, equivalent to 250 yen per capita.

The JCP criticizes this system as forcing people to indirectly provide donations to parties they do not necessarily support in violation of freedom of thought and creed, and has been refusing to receive such subsidies.

LDP, 15,794 million yen, up 375 million yen
DPJ, 11,773 million yen, down 418 million yen
Komei, 2,946 million yen, down 24 million yen
SDP, 1,024 million yen, down 3 million yen
PNP, 60 million yen
NPN, 40 million yen
-- Akahata, September 14, 2005