Once more into the breach | This week in Japanese politics

Ruling parties talk political reform, Ueda changes his tune on yen weakness, and a trilateral summit is in the works

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After Prime Minister Kishida Fumio orders the ruling parties to finalize a proposal, the Liberal Democratic Party and Kōmeitō announced a draft plan — but not all are satisfied. Meanwhile, the opposition parties are turning up the pressure on Kishida, collaborating on their own reform proposal, renewing calls for hearings on the kickback scandal, and, in the case of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), preparing to field more candidates in the next general election. The Kishida cabinet did not help matters, as two separate cabinet ministers had to apologize for mistakes. At home, the government remained under pressure for the weak yen, and Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo, after downplaying the risks in April, sounded more concerned this week. The Diet, meanwhile, passed two pieces of national security legislation, and the government indicated that plans for a summit with South Korea and China at the end of the month were taking shape — but the Chinese government also complained about a large delegation of Japanese lawmakers that will attend Taiwan’s presidential inauguration later this month. Plus: Asō delivers a report on his meeting with Donald Trump.

Politics

LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu (R) and Kōmeitō Secretary-General Ishii Keiichi present the proposal for political reform. Source: LDP

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio returned from his Golden Week travels and promptly ordered the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) project team working on political reform legislation to reach an agreement with Kōmeitō on draft legislation that can be passed during the remainder of the Diet session, signaling his urgency as the parliamentary session enters its final weeks.

On Thursday, 9 May the two parties announced that they had reached a broad agreement that requires lawmakers to report how they use “policy activity funds” they receive from their parties; provide more transparency about who purchases tickets to fundraising parties; and strengthen lax reporting rules for funds transfers from politician-affiliated groups to other organizations. However, the coalition partners still need to finalize some of the finer details of the proposals, for example the specific thresholds for reporting information about donors, funds transfers, and the like, prompting criticism that the coalition’s proposal is “half baked.”

The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and the Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), meanwhile, have agreed to talks to develop their own political reform proposal, which is expected to include stronger “guilt-by-association” provisions for violations, the abolition of “policy activity funds,” and greater third-party oversight. The two parties are aiming to finalize a proposal by next week. CDP Secretary-General Okada Katsuya did not rule out cooperation with Ishin no Kai, but the priority is on talks with the DPFP first. The CDP and DPFP may be working towards closer coordination for the next general election, though policy differences remain.

The CDP, Ishin no Kai, and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) have also joined forces to press the LDP to convene more hearings of the political ethics commissions of both houses to question LDP lawmakers who have not yet been called upon to discuss their participation in factional kickback schemes. Thanks to the CDP’s victories on 28 April, the opposition parties now have enough seats on the lower house’s commission to submit a petition. The opposition parties have requested that 44 lower house members and 32 upper house members appear. If the LDP does not cooperate, the opposition parties could hold up other legislative proceedings during the remainder of the Diet session. The start of the trial for Abe faction treasurer Matsumoto Junichirō on 10 May will ensure that the scandal remains in the public eye.