Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida Apologises For Kickback Scandal

Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida has apologised in front of the parliamentary ethics committee for the slush funds scandal that has engulfed his Liberal Democratic Party.

“I feel deeply sorry when I think about whether we’ll actually be able to pass on this political system to future generations,” Kishida said in his opening remarks, adding that the party will consider how to formally reprimand lawmakers involved in the scandal.

In the televised session, Kishida vowed to advance political reforms and to amend the political funds control law.

Kishida’s appearance comes at a time when the government aims to secure swift passage of a budget for the next fiscal year starting in April. Deliberations on the budget have come to a standstill due to impasse over committee hearings.

The ruling coalition has been under the scanner amid allegations that some factions neglected to report portions of their incomes from fundraising parties and created slush funds.

Prosecutors have so far indicted or issued indictments to 10 individuals belonging to the various factions of the coalition.

“I’m hoping that lawmakers … will fulfil their responsibility to explain their actions on various platforms, including the ethics committee, in order for us to revive trust in politics,” Kishida said.

Last week, the ruling coalition said that two lawmakers — Ryu Shionoya, the de facto leader of the biggest faction and Ryota Takeda, a senior member of another intraparty group, will attend the council. This was turned down by the opposition, which demanded the attendance of more LDP lawmakers.

The ethics committee meeting continues today with other members of the ruling coalition expected to appear before it.

Approval ratings for Japan’s ruling coalition has sunk, according to the latest opinion poll conducted by Jiji Press. The public support rate for the LDP dropped to 14.6%, down 3.7 percentage points from the previous month, marking the lowest rate since the monthly poll started in 1960.