Political funding scandal in Japan spreads, with government spokesman facing accusations

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – A day after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided to stop leading a faction of his ruling party over a funding scandal, a government spokesman has been accused of under-reporting political funds.

But Hirokazu Matsuno, also chief Cabinet secretary and an eight-term lawmaker, on Friday said he has “no intention” of stepping down, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

Kishida also quit leading the faction over the scandal, though he is expected to stay on as premier.

Matsuno has been accused of “failing to report more than 10 million yen ($70,000) in income raised through events hosted by his party faction.”

He rose to become top government spokesman in October 2021 when Kishida became premier.

“I will continue to fulfill my duties with a sense of responsibility,” said Matsuno, who belongs to largest faction – Seiwaken or the Seiwa policy study group – inside the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Matsuno added that process of investigating the allegations is continuing.

If he is found guilty, this would be a violation of Japan’s political funds control law.

Japanese prosecutors are probing a criminal complaint which accuses five factions of the ruling party of underreporting revenue generated over five years through the end of 2022 through political fundraising parties.​​​​​​​