Political News(2023/12/08)
Political funding issue: Four former secretary generals of Abe's faction are also accused
2023-12-08 23:58:00
On the 8th, a university professor who had accused five factions of the Liberal Democratic Party of violating the Political Funds Control Act in connection with a political funding party held by a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party announced on the 8th that he had previously served as the secretary general of the largest faction, the Abe faction, the Seiwa Policy Research Group. An additional indictment targeting four members of the Diet has been mailed to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno ``I want to fulfill my responsibilities'' over suspicions of not reporting kickbacks
2023-12-08 20:59:00
At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno avoided explaining the specific facts regarding the suspicion that he received over 10 million yen in kickbacks from the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, to which he belongs, and that he had not properly reported the matter. ``I would like to continue fulfilling my duties with a sense of urgency,'' he said.
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Liberal Democratic Party Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura “examines and explains his own political funding”
2023-12-08 20:48:00
Regarding the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura acknowledged that the situation has become such that it is damaging the public's trust. He emphasized the idea of responding and providing explanations.
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Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: Policy to increase the cost at the counter for patients requesting branded medicines
2023-12-08 19:35:00
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has proposed to the Council a policy of increasing the out-of-pocket costs for patients who wish to prescribe brand-name drugs whose patents have expired rather than generic drugs in cases where there is no medical necessity. It is expected that the increase will be implemented.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno explains, ``My own organization will be dealt with appropriately'' House of Councilors Budget Committee
2023-12-08 19:32:00
In the afternoon, intensive deliberations were held in the House of Councilors Budget Committee. While the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan set out the facts regarding the issue surrounding Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno's political funds, Mr. Matsuno explained that his own political organization had handled the matter appropriately.
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Takagi and Seko also received kickbacks of over 10 million yen, suspected of not disclosing income
2023-12-08 19:26:00
In addition to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno's side, Abe faction executive and Secretary-General Takeshi Takagi, chairman of the National Assembly Measures Committee, and House of Councilors Secretary-General Hiroshige Seko have been involved in the issue surrounding political funding parties of LDP factions until last year. Through interviews with people involved, it has been newly discovered that there is a suspicion that he received kickbacks of more than 10 million yen over a five-year period and did not record them as income in his political funds balance report. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation department appears to be working to clarify the actual situation regarding the flow of funds.
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Takagi and Seko also received kickbacks of over 10 million yen, suspected of not disclosing income
2023-12-08 19:01:00
In addition to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno's side, Abe faction executive and Secretary-General Takeshi Takagi, chairman of the National Assembly Measures Committee, and House of Councilors Secretary-General Hiroshige Seko have been involved in the issue surrounding political funding parties of LDP factions until last year. Through interviews with people involved, it has been newly discovered that there is a suspicion that he received kickbacks of more than 10 million yen over a five-year period and did not record them as income in his political funds balance report. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation department appears to be working to clarify the actual situation regarding the flow of funds.
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International Conference of Eminent Persons: Prime Minister Kishida makes final arrangements to meet with atomic bomb survivors
2023-12-08 18:59:00
Interviews with related parties revealed that final arrangements are being made for Prime Minister Kishida to meet with atomic bomb survivors on the 9th at the International Conference of Eminent Persons, which began in Nagasaki on the 8th. A male atomic bomb survivor who was approached for a meeting said, ``I want to tell the Prime Minister that I want him to show the world his intention to abolish nuclear weapons.''
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House of Representatives Budget Committee Prime Minister: Political funding issue “tackled with a strong sense of crisis”
2023-12-08 18:17:00
Intensive deliberations were held in the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan pursued issues such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno's political funding. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that the party will work together as one with a strong sense of crisis in order to regain trust in politics regarding the issue surrounding political funding by factions within the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno ``I want to fulfill my responsibilities'' over suspicions of not reporting kickbacks
2023-12-08 18:00:00
At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno avoided explaining the specific facts regarding the suspicion that he received over 10 million yen in kickbacks from the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, to which he belongs, and that he had not properly reported the matter. ``I would like to continue fulfilling my duties with a sense of urgency,'' he said.
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Review of export rules for defense equipment Compilation of proposals by the government and government Proposal
2023-12-08 17:40:00
Working-level talks between the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party regarding the review of export rules for defense equipment will make it possible for "licensed production" equipment that imports technology from foreign companies and manufactures it domestically to be exported to third countries. We have compiled a proposal that includes these points. After going through the procedures within each party, we plan to submit a proposal to the government by the end of the year.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno ``I want to fulfill my responsibilities'' over suspicions of not reporting kickbacks
2023-12-08 17:16:00
At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno avoided explaining the specific facts regarding the suspicion that he received over 10 million yen in kickbacks from the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, to which he belongs, and that he had not properly reported the matter. ``I would like to continue fulfilling my duties with a sense of urgency,'' he said.
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House of Representatives Budget Committee Prime Minister: Political funding issue “tackled with a strong sense of crisis”
2023-12-08 14:35:00
Intensive deliberations were held in the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan pursued issues such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno's political funding. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that the party will work together as one with a strong sense of crisis in order to regain trust in politics regarding the issue surrounding political funding by factions within the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno ``I want to fulfill my responsibilities'' over suspicions of not reporting kickbacks
2023-12-08 14:24:00
At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno avoided explaining the specific facts regarding the suspicion that he received over 10 million yen in kickbacks from the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, to which he belongs, and that he had not properly reported the matter. ``I would like to continue fulfilling my duties with a sense of urgency,'' he said.
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Judgment ordering compensation in South Korea's comfort women issue: Foreign Minister Kamikawa ``policy not to appeal''
2023-12-08 14:05:00
Foreign Minister Kamikawa announced at a press conference that the Japanese government will not appeal the South Korean High Court's ruling last month ordering the Japanese government to pay compensation regarding the comfort women issue.
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House of Representatives Budget Committee Prime Minister: Political funding issue “tackled with a strong sense of crisis”
2023-12-08 14:01:00
Intensive deliberations were held in the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan pursued issues such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno's political funding. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that the party will work together as one with a strong sense of crisis in order to regain trust in politics regarding the issue surrounding political funding by factions within the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno ``I want to fulfill my responsibilities'' after being suspected of not reporting kickbacks
2023-12-08 12:01:00
At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno avoided explaining the specific facts regarding the suspicion that he received over 10 million yen in kickbacks from the Abe faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, to which he belongs, and that he had not properly reported the matter. ``I would like to continue fulfilling my duties with a sense of urgency,'' he said.
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Defense Minister decides whether to resume Ground Self-Defense Force Osprey flights based on information from the US side
2023-12-08 11:33:00
Regarding the U.S. military's suspension of all Osprey flights following the crash off the coast of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Minister of Defense Kihara said that he will decide whether to resume flights of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Osprey based on information from the U.S. side. I showed my thoughts.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno received over 10 million yen in kickbacks but is not recorded
2023-12-08 11:15:00
Regarding the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction in the Liberal Democratic Party, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who belongs to the largest faction of the Abe faction, the Seiwa Policy Research Group, received kickbacks of more than 10 million yen in the five years up to last year, and the party received political funding. Through interviews with related parties, we learned that there is a suspicion that the income was not recorded as income on the income and expenditure report. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation department appears to be working to clarify the actual situation regarding the flow of funds.
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Basic policy for next year's budget bill decided Aiming for sustainable growth and structural wage increases
2023-12-08 09:35:00
At a cabinet meeting on the 8th, the government decided on the basic policy for formulating next year's budget bill. The company aims to achieve sustainable growth and structural wage increases in order to completely overcome deflation.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno received over 10 million yen in kickbacks but is not recorded
2023-12-08 09:26:00
Regarding the issue surrounding the political funding party of a faction in the Liberal Democratic Party, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, who belongs to the largest faction of the Abe faction, the Seiwa Policy Research Group, received kickbacks of more than 10 million yen in the five years up to last year, and the party received political funding. Through interviews with related parties, we learned that there is a suspicion that the income was not recorded as income on the income and expenditure report. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation department appears to be working to clarify the actual situation regarding the flow of funds.
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The opening of the House of Representatives Budget Committee is delayed.
2023-12-08 09:12:00
The House of Representatives Budget Committee was scheduled to hold intensive deliberations starting at 9 a.m. with Prime Minister Kishida and relevant ministers in attendance, but the opening of the session has been delayed.
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Chief Cabinet Secretary kickback report: Prime Minister Kishida ``I want to answer in the Diet, etc.''
2023-12-08 09:06:00
Prime Minister Kishida responded to some reports that Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno is suspected of receiving over 10 million yen in kickbacks over the past five years from the Abe faction, which he does not record in his political funds balance report.8 When asked by reporters in Japan and North Korea, he said, ``I would like to give an answer in the Diet and elsewhere in the future.''
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Export of defense equipment from both Japan and the public sector expands beyond Ukraine and makes recommendations to government
2023-12-08 06:26:00
Working-level talks between the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party regarding the review of export rules for defense equipment have been held to limit the scope of provision of non-lethal Self-Defense Forces equipment, such as bulletproof vests, which is limited to Ukraine, to ``invasion in violation of international law''. We agreed to expand this system to other countries that have received the same, and will include it in our recommendations to the government.
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Prime Minister Kishida leaves Kishida faction, opposition party will pursue harshly in intensive deliberations today
2023-12-08 06:00:00
Prime Minister Kishida left the Kishida faction, of which he was the chairman, in response to issues surrounding the Liberal Democratic Party's faction's political funding party. The opposition parties say that the situation continues to lack accountability, and plan to pursue the matter harshly during intensive deliberations in the Diet on the 8th.
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Specific timing for the start of defense tax increase Adjusted to postpone decision by the end of this month
2023-12-08 05:17:00
Regarding the tax increase aimed at securing funding for defense costs, the Liberal Democratic Party's Tax Investigation Committee has decided to postpone deciding on a specific start date by the end of this month. It is expected that the final decision will be made, taking into account the fact that there is a strong argument for caution in determining the timing of the tax increase before the implementation of the income tax reduction.
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"Japan-U.S. Extended Deterrence Talks" Strengthening response capabilities in light of North Korean ballistic missiles, etc.
2023-12-08 00:48:00
The Japanese and U.S. governments held working-level talks regarding "extended deterrence," which protects Japan with U.S. nuclear forces and other means, and confirmed that they would strengthen their response capabilities in light of North Korea's ballistic missile launches.
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