Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's investigation into the Liberal Democratic Party's funding scandal has led to the questioning of four top officials from the Abe faction. These officials have implicated former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in the practice of collecting and returning funds to faction members beyond their ticket sales quotas.
Mori's influence within the Abe faction has grown since Abe's assassination in July 2022. He is believed to have designed the post-Abe leadership scheme and named the five top officials in that circle. The fund-return practice is said to have originated during Mori's tenure as faction head from 1998 to 2006, except for his brief stint as prime minister from 2000 to 2001.
Kishida faces a dilemma as he considers disciplinary measures for the unreported funds. Opposition parties demand that Mori be questioned in the Diet, but the LDP is hesitant. If Kishida questions Mori and new information emerges, it could lead to further investigations by prosecutors and potential backlash from the Abe faction.
Despite retiring as a lawmaker, Mori remains a powerful figure in Japanese politics. Kishida's ability to uncover new information from Mori will be crucial in determining whether he can resolve the scandal and avoid criticism from the opposition for attempting to cover up the truth.