TOKYO: ASO Taro, vice president of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, has no intention of dissolving his faction, while three other party groups will be disbanded following a political funds scandal, sources said Sunday.

Aso has conveyed his view to Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio, the ruling LDP’s president, the party sources added.

So far, the factions currently or formerly headed by Kishida, former Secretary-General NIKAI Toshihiro and the late former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo have decided to dissolve themselves.

In the Aso faction, some members have proposed that their group also be disbanded. Aso is expected to make his final decision on the fate of his faction after the LDP adopts an interim report on political reform Thursday.

On Friday, Kishida met separately with Aso and Secretary-General MOTEGI Toshimitsu, who also heads a faction, at the party headquarters and explained his decision to dissolve the Kishida faction. Aso conveyed his intention of continuing his faction during the meeting, the sources said.

After the meeting, Aso said in a statement, “After receiving the interim report, I would like to consult well with other member lawmakers about the way we should be as a policy group.”

Among Aso faction members, however, former Defense Minister IWAYA Takeshi has said that all LDP factions should be dissolved.

Meanwhile, Motegi said in a television program Sunday that he will discuss the matter with other members of his faction without assuming that the group will remain.

On Saturday, General Council Chairman MORIYAMA Hiroshi told reporters in Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, that he will talk about the issue with other members of the faction he leads while watching progress in the party’s discussions.

JIJI Press