JCP Ichida demands that LDP and DPJ come clean on political funds scandals

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JCP Ichida demands that LDP and DPJ come clean on political funds scandals

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on TV programs aired on January 28 demanded that the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan disclose to the public the facts concerning a series of political fund scandals involving their members.

Referring to the resignations of Sata Gen'ichiro (LDP) as the Administrative Reform minister and Tsunoda Giichi (DPJ) as the House of Councilors vice president, Ichida said, "Their resignations do not resolve the problem. The LDP and the DPJ must investigate into the matters, including Prime Minister Abe's responsibility for appointing him as a minister."

Pointing out that the Political Funds Control Law is to make the political funds transparent, Ichida demanded that all costs for maintaining offices as well as political activities be made public in detail.

He also emphasized the need to revise the law so as to require lawmakers to provide receipts for every office expense.

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Recent political funds scandals

Liberal Democratic Party

- Ibuki Bunmei (Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology minister)
Using the rent-free Dietmembers' Office Building as the main office of his fund management organization, Ibuki reported 41.5 million yen as office expenses in 2005. He also reported 6 million yen as office expenses of an inactive political organization whose office is in the same location. He admitted that wining and dining expenses were included in this account and said, "Sometimes we have to pay expenses for which we cannot get receipts."

- Matsuoka Toshikatsu (Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries minister)
Placing his fund management organization in the Dietmembers' Office Building, Matsuoka reported 33.6 million yen in 2005 as office expenses.

- Nakagawa Shoichi (LDP Policy Research Council chair)
Having his fund management organization in the Dietmembers' Office Building, Nakagawa reported that 360 million yen had been spent as office expenses in the past six years.

- Sata Gen'ichiro (former Administrative Reform minister)
Sata submitted falsified funding reports on expenditures for the operation of a fictitious office. He resigned as minister admitting that the accounting was "inappropriate."

Democratic Party of Japan

- Ozawa Ichiro (DPJ president)
Ozawa reported that he expended 415 million yen in 2005 alone for office expenses. He explained that he bought a building with land to use as a dormitory for his unmarried secretaries.

- Matsumoto Takeaki (DPJ policy chief)
Having his fund management organization in the Dietmembers' Office Building, Matsumoto reported 18.7 million yen as office expenses in 2005.

- Tsunoda Giichi (former House of Councilors vice president)
Tsunoda failed to report 25.2 million yen in political donations which his campaign headquarters collected in the 2001 Upper House election. His under-the-counter accounting book reportedly recorded that he received donations from an organization affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun). He resigned as the vice president.
- Akahata, January 29, 2007