Editorial: New Japan PM must not use election to sweep LDP slush fund scandal under the rug October 8, 2024 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, front right, listens to a question from opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan member Harumi Yoshida during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Oct. 7, 2024. (Mainichi/Akihiro Hirata) The focus of Japan's Oct. 27 House of Representatives election will be to eliminate distrust in the country's politics, but can the people's understanding and sympathy be gained? Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced that six of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s lower house lawmakers disciplined for being involved in the factional slush fund scandal will not be endorsed in the upcoming general election. The six were senior members of the Abe faction once led by late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In addition, the party has decided that the remaining implicated lawmakers will be endorsed but will not be permitted to also run as proportional representation candidates. Depending on local preferences スーパーコピー信用できるサイト  yet more lawmakers may be denied party endorsement. Initially, the party leadership solidified its stance to endorse these lawmakers in principle, with Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama justifying the decision by stating, "Winning the election comes first." However ブランド財布コピー  facing harsh public criticism, the prime minister was forced to adjust this policy. Nevertheless スーパーコピー  the majority of the lawmakers disciplined over the secret slush funds are still expected to receive party endorsement. The recent decision was based on April's disciplinary actions including party membership suspensions, drawing a clear line regarding endorsements. It is only natural that lawmakers who had their party memberships suspended would not be endorsed. On the other hand, those whose party roles were suspended for a year were evaluated based on whether they had appeared before the lower house and House of Councillors political ethics committees during the last regular Diet session. However ブランドコピー最高N級  endorsing those lawmakers solely based on their attendance at the committees, even though they only denied involvement and failed to fully explain their actions, is difficult to comprehend. While some Abe faction lawmakers are voicing opposition, claiming their faction is being targeted ブランド激安市場  such debates are internal matters that do not consider the public's viewpoint. From the outset, the disciplinary measures have been criticized for their arbitrary and lenient standards. Ishiba had expressed an intention to meet individually with the lawmakers to determine whether the slush funds were used for nonpolitical purposes. However, with the dissolution of the lower house looming and a rushed election schedule, this promise to investigate and explain the matter to the public has not been fulfilled. In the upcoming election, lawmakers barred from running as proportional representation candidates will face their fate in single-seat constituencies. The LDP as a whole must accept voters' judgment, including of how it has handled the slush fund issue in its endorsement decisions. However, even if the disciplined lawmakers are reelected, unless the public receives sufficient explanation and understands the situation, it cannot be said that they have atoned for their actions. Ultimately, the party and the Diet should establish an independent body to investigate the situation and use the findings as the foundation for comprehensive political reform. Prime Minister Ishiba must not use the general election as a means to sweep the slush fund issue under the rug. Font Size SML Print Go to The Mainichi Home Page Related Articles Japan's LDP won't field 'assassins' in lower house race to oppose lawmakers after scandal Editorial: PM Ishiba's vision for Japan unclear in his 1st policy speech Editorial: New PM Ishiba's competence to be tested by Japan's need for real reform