The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Motegi faction is facing a potential disbandment in the aftermath of a funding scandal that has shaken the party to its core. The decision will be finalized this week after consulting with member lawmakers.
The news follows the dissolution of three other factions whose former accounting officials were charged with keeping revenue from fundraising parties off the books. The Moriyama faction also decided to disband, leaving the Motegi and Aso factions in the spotlight.
Motegi was initially hesitant to disband his faction, which originated from one founded in 1972 by former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka. However, several member lawmakers, including Yuko Obuchi and Masakazu Sekiguchi, announced their departure, along with calls from within the faction for its dissolution.
In response, Motegi acknowledged the end of the faction, referred to as the Heisei Kenkyukai, which has produced two former prime ministers and other influential figures in Japanese politics.
LDP Vice President Taro Aso, on the other hand, expressed his commitment to maintaining his own faction. He emphasized the need to strengthen the faction's role as a policy group and engage in in-depth policy study to regain public trust.
The intraparty factions in the LDP have traditionally played a crucial role in providing funds for member lawmakers and making recommendations for personnel appointments.