Former Prime Minister Kishida's Fund-Raising Practices Under Scrutiny
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who led the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a loss in the October Lower House election, is facing criticism for his past participation in fund-raising parties. These parties, which have been linked to a money scandal within the LDP, have drawn public backlash for their lack of transparency and potential for misuse of funds.
Despite vowing to address the scandal, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who succeeded Kishida, has also been implicated in the fund-raising practices. An analysis by The Asahi Shimbun revealed that 19 of the 20 ministers in Ishiba's Cabinet have held fund-raising parties, raising concerns about their commitment to reform.
The analysis found that these ministers collected a combined 486.76 million yen ($3.2 million) from the parties, with a profit rate of 75%. Notably, 95% of the donors remained anonymous, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and undue influence.
Several ministers, including Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, collected significant sums through these parties. Additionally, some ministers, such as Farm Minister Taku Eto and Education Minister Toshiko Abe, had high profit rates, further fueling concerns about the transparency and accountability of these practices.
Professor Hiroshi Kamiwaki, a constitutional law expert, has called for a ban on fund-raising parties, citing their potential for creating slush funds and lack of transparency. He argues that individual and political organization donations are a more appropriate and accountable means of political fundraising.
The ongoing scrutiny of fund-raising practices within the LDP highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in political financing. As the public demands reform, it remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Ishiba will take concrete steps to address these concerns and restore trust in the political system.