Japan Press Weekly

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2007 December 19 - 2008 January 8 [POLITICS]

Parties other than JCP receive huge government subsidies

Nearly 32 billion yen (about 280 million US dollars) has been distributed to all Japanese political parties except the Japanese Communist Party in government subsidy for 2007. The last of the year’s four installments was paid on December 20.

In 2007, the 31,940,000,000 yen paid to political parties was distributed as follows:

- Liberal Democratic Party….16,595 million yen
- Democratic Party of Japan…11,630 million yen
- Komei Party………………... 2,860 million yen
- Social Democratic Party………968 million yen
- People’s New Party……………329 million yen
- New Party Nippon……………. 178 million yen.

The LDP received 516 million yen less than what was estimated earlier this year due to its loss of a large number of seats in the July Upper House election. In contrast, the DPJ that won a large number of extra seats in the same election was allocated 570 million yen more than the previous estimate.

No matter whether Japanese citizens support them or not, 215 yen in tax money per person - including babies - is allocated to political parties according to the number of Dietmembers they have as of January 1, as well as the vote-getting strength in parliamentary elections.

The JCP has been consistent in refusing to accept government subsidies that use tax money to political parties without regard for taxpayers’ support. Insisting that this subsidy system is a violation of freedom of thought and conscience, the JCP calls for its abolition.