TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio on Thursday underlined the need for the Liberal Democratic Party to reform itself in the wake of the ongoing slush funds scandal involving factions of the ruling party.

“The LDP must change itself to regain public trust and protect Japan’s democracy,” Kishida, president of the LDP, said at the first meeting of its new headquarters tasked with promoting political reform and compiling measures to prevent money scandals.

In the day’s meeting, former Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide, who does not belong to any LDP faction, and others called on the party to dissolve its factions.

The LDP headquarters is aiming to draw up an interim report by the end of this month.

In the high-profile scandal, LDP factions are suspected of creating slush funds by distributing to member lawmakers parts of fundraising party revenues, with the kickbacks not being recorded in political funds reports.

Public attention and doubts are focused on the political funds of factions and the party, Kishida said regarding the scandal. “We must unite to respond to this matter with a strong sense of crisis that the situation is extremely serious,” he said.

On the possible revision of related laws such as the political funds control law, LDP Secretary-General MOTEGI Toshimitsu highlighted the importance of both the ruling and opposition parties to continue earnest discussions to reach a conclusion. “We will consider necessary legislation to ensure transparency in political funds,” he said.

The headquarters, headed by Kishida, is made up of 38 members, with LDP Vice President ASO Taro and Suga serving as top advisers, and Motegi and other party executives as acting or deputy heads. Other members include former Environment Minister KOIZUMI Shinjiro.

In the wake of the slush funds scandal, Kishida has referred to the possibility of revising the political funds control law. He has also proposed, among other things, that spending and revenues related to fundraising parties be audited by the LDP.

JIJI Press