DPJ cabinet uses secret fund, too

Japan Press Weekly

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

DPJ cabinet uses secret fund, too

The new government led by the Democratic Party of Japan has withdrawn 120 million yen from the secret state fund. As an opposition party, the DPJ had called for the use of the cabinet’s discretionary fund to be disclosed and submitted a bill in this regard.

On September 17, shortly after the inauguration of the DPJ-led cabinet, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano Hirofumi said that he is not aware of the secret fund. However, he later withdrew a total of 120 million yen from the slush fund.

Hirano admitted on November 19 that he made the withdrawal. He said that he made a proper judgment on how to use the fund but cannot disclose how it will be used.

The government is not required to record and disclose to the public how the fund is used.

On the other hand, the former Liberal Democratic and Komei parties’ government withdrew 250 million yen from the secret state fund two days after the August 30 general election in which they suffered a crushing defeat. It was discovered by the Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member Shiokawa Tetsuya.

In FY 2009, 1.4 billion yen is earmarked for the secretive discretionary fund. According to documents obtained by Shiokawa, 100 million yen was withdrawn from the fund each month until August. Compared with this amount, the 250 million yen withdrawn at the last minute of the former cabinet is much higher than is usual.

In April 2002, internal Cabinet documents were disclosed by JCP Chair Shii Kazuo showing that the secret state fund had been used by the LDP and Komei members to buy business suits and tickets for politicians’ fundraisers. Based on the documents, Shii urged the government to disclose how the fund was used and ban its use for private purposes.

- Akahata, November 20, 2009