Tokyo, Apr 4 (Agency) Former Japanese Education Minister Ryu Shionoya, who is expected to be forced to resign from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Thursday, has accused party leaders of dictatorial management methods and called on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to take responsibility for the kickback scandal. On Thursday, Shionoya, along with some other senior members of the largest LDP faction, previously led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is expected to receive the second toughest punishment at a disciplinary commission, being asked to apply to leave the party for accepting fundraising kickbacks. “I strongly protest against the dictatorial and tyrannical management of the party,” Shionoya’s written statement was quoted as saying by Japanese broadcaster NHK. The ex-minister also expressed his outrage towards LDP leader Kishida. “As for the party’s responsibility, Prime Minister Kishida, who led the faction whose accountant is being prosecuted, must bear both moral and political responsibility,” the lawmaker said.
He added he was absolutely against the situation “when only a part of Abe’s faction has been unfairly punished, although the actions that fall under specific responsibility criteria have not been clearly identified,” and called such a state of affairs absolutely unacceptable. On Thursday, the LDP’s disciplinary commission is scheduled to decide on punishment measures for 39 senior party members, lawmakers and ex-ministers. If Shionoya does not leave the party within 10 days after being requested to do so, he will be then automatically removed with no opportunity to be reinstated. The scandal around underreported LDP funds broke out in early December 2023. Five factions within the ruling party allegedly received money from various fundraising events that they failed to report. To safeguard against bribery and corruption, Japanese law demands that the names of donors and the amounts raised be written in a reporting book if the funds collected at one event exceed 200,000 yen ($1,350). The donations exceeding this amount had not been declared, and the surplus was allegedly pocketed by some LDP members in kickbacks. A number of senior LDP members were questioned throughout December 2023, and some of the politicians resigned amid the scandal.