The Upper House Deliberative Council on Political Ethics, in a historic move, has chosen to call upon 32 lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to clarify their involvement in accepting funds raised through party events. This decision follows the Lower House panel’s questioning of officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, without uncovering any fresh revelations related to the scandal concerning LDP factions.
Among those who have shown a willingness to face the panel are Hiroshige Seko, a former secretary-general of the LDP’s Upper House caucus, and Shoji Nishida from the same faction that was once under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's leadership. Nishida even expressed his openness to having reporters present during the committee session, emphasizing transparency. Despite Yasutada Ono's departure from the LDP amid accusations of receiving significant sums of money, most of the 32 lawmakers in question are still affiliated with the party. However, there remains uncertainty over how many of them will ultimately choose to appear before the panel, as not all are eager to do so.
The Council's decision to summon all 32 lawmakers has drawn attention for its bipartisan support, with Saori Yoshikawa from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan highlighting the significance of even LDP members on the panel agreeing to this course of action. The upcoming sessions, scheduled to begin as early as March 14, will offer a platform for the lawmakers to address the allegations surrounding their financial dealings, shedding light on the complexities of political ethics within the ruling party.