February 4, 2016
Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Commission Chair Kokuta Keiji on February 3, asked by the press about bribery allegations involving a Cabinet minister, underscored the need to enact a JCP-proposed bill to put a blanket ban on corporate and organizational political donations.
Last week, Amari Akira resigned as Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization over the allegations that he received a large amount of money from a construction company for having provided advantages to the company.
Kokuta cited a recent news report that Amari instructed his staff to treat part of the questionable money as his political fund management body’s revenue from sales of political fund raising party tickets. The JCP lawmaker pointed out that many political fund management organizations collect more money from selling party tickets to corporations than from donations. He stressed that party ticket revenue is a loophole that needs to be closed.
Kokuta noted that the JCP last year submitted to the previous Diet session a bill to tighten regulations on political funds. He explained that the bill, which was carried over to the current session of the Diet, aims to prohibit corporations and organizations from not only making political donations but also purchasing party tickets from politicians. If enacted, the bill will also lower the upper limit of individual political donations and toughen penalties for violations. Kokuta stressed that the JCP will work hard for the enactment of the bill in order to eliminate the money-oriented structure of politics.
Past related articles:
> Economy minister’s resignation will not put end to his bribery allegations: Yamashita [January 29, 2016]
> Economy minister Amari suspected of taking bribes [January 22, 2016]
Last week, Amari Akira resigned as Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization over the allegations that he received a large amount of money from a construction company for having provided advantages to the company.
Kokuta cited a recent news report that Amari instructed his staff to treat part of the questionable money as his political fund management body’s revenue from sales of political fund raising party tickets. The JCP lawmaker pointed out that many political fund management organizations collect more money from selling party tickets to corporations than from donations. He stressed that party ticket revenue is a loophole that needs to be closed.
Kokuta noted that the JCP last year submitted to the previous Diet session a bill to tighten regulations on political funds. He explained that the bill, which was carried over to the current session of the Diet, aims to prohibit corporations and organizations from not only making political donations but also purchasing party tickets from politicians. If enacted, the bill will also lower the upper limit of individual political donations and toughen penalties for violations. Kokuta stressed that the JCP will work hard for the enactment of the bill in order to eliminate the money-oriented structure of politics.
Past related articles:
> Economy minister’s resignation will not put end to his bribery allegations: Yamashita [January 29, 2016]
> Economy minister Amari suspected of taking bribes [January 22, 2016]
