Japan Press Weekly

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2015 March 4 - 10 [POLITICS]

JCP Shiokawa urges gov’t to ban corporate political donations

Japanese Communist Party legislator Shiokawa Tetsuya argued on March 6 in his Diet question that a total ban on political donations by corporations and other “special interest groups” is essential to eradicate money-driven politics.

Recently, it has been brought to light that government-subsidized companies made donations to many cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

At a House of Representatives Budget Committee session, Shiokawa noted that political donations greatly affect government policies.

Shiokawa showed a written request for contributions which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party sent to the Japan Federation of Construction Contractors shortly before the 2013 Upper House election. In that document, the LDP called for a total of 471 million yen, saying that it is necessary to “help implement policies”.

The JCP lawmaker condemned the governing party for “selling” policies to large companies in exchange for donations, pointing to the fact that Japan’s four leading general contractors, Obayashi, Taisei, Shimizu, and Kajima corporations, contributed to the LDP 12 million yen each in 2013.

PM Abe said that such contributions have nothing to do with policy formulation in his administration.

Pointing out that private businesses give money to political parties in expectation of something in return, Shiokawa stressed the need to forbid all forms of political donations from companies.

The JCP is planning to submit to the Diet a bill to impose a total ban on political contributions by corporations and organizations, including through political fund-raising parties.


Past related article:
> Agriculture Minister resigns following money scandals [February 24, 2015]